Update for parents and carers: Friday 21^st May 2021

We think of all people currently suffering through conflict in the Middle East and all around our world today.

Our school motto guides us to ‘learn to love’ all people made in equal in the image and likeness of God.

We follow the commands of God, which are to be loving, peaceful and tolerant.

We pray that world and political leaders strive for an end to all conflict and come together to create a more peaceful and loving world.

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

Amen

We continue to operate within full Government and Public Health guidelines for schools.

Please continue to support your child in carrying out twice-weekly Covid tests at home. Thank you.

Updated guidance from May 17th regarding use of face coverings in school.

The DFE have published updated guidance for Secondary Schools. The key points are as follows:

• ​Pupils are no longer expected to wear face coverings in school. This includes classrooms and communal areas.
• Staff are no longer expected to wear face coverings in classrooms.
• Staff are still advised to wear face coverings outside of classrooms and where a suitable social distance is not possible. This includes use on corridors and in other busy communal areas.
• Face coverings for pupils may be reinstated and advised in the event of localised outbreaks of transmission.

As a school, we continue to follow all Public Health and Government Guidance. In some instances, pupils may wish to continue wearing face coverings and especially during this transitional phase. For example, there are several pupils who live with parents who are vulnerable and can’t yet be vaccinated. We will of course support pupils in this and other contexts whereby not wearing a face covering from Monday will cause anxiety and be to the detriment of learning. Over time, we hope that full confidence is restored and anxiety dissipates.

We continue to follow this guidance:

If your child or any of the household are displaying any of the main symptoms of Covid19, such as a new or continuous cough, a high temperature or fever, a loss or change to taste or smell, you are expected to stay at home, isolate and to seek a test. 

Our current timings for school start and exit have worked very well since September for a whole host of reasons but principally to support with safety. Our compressed curriculum model has meant that pupils have full subject coverage with no learning time lost. Despite the huge challenges, the quality of education at Holy Trinity remains excellent and at the very highest standard. Key performance indicators are showing very pleasing progress data for pupils in all years. It seems sensible to continue with these timings for the rest of the year with any changes happening in September.

Despite the current challenges, we continue to be ambitious for all of our youngsters and there are a number of important and exciting developments happening for each year group in the weeks and months ahead:

Year 11 now enter the final stages of their education at Holy Trinity and we are confident that these remaining weeks will be successful ones. Key Performance Indicators for pupils in Year 11 have consistently shown ‘Outstanding’ progress for pupils since they started in Year 7. Youngsters are on course to achieve an exceptional set of final outcomes placing them amongst the highest achieving pupils in the country.

In other news: 

School Expansion Project is edging closer to becoming very much a reality in school. We are delighted that youngsters will have excellent facilities to go alongside their high quality curriculum and teaching and learning. Final Funding has been approved, with June 1^st now set as a date for the project to start!

As we progress through these challenging times together, we must be mindful that our continued collaboration and strong working partnership is the only way in which we can overcome the challenges that are faced.

Our school mission has been strengthened during this pandemic, which is to provide all of our pupils with an excellent education, to support them in achieving absolutely anything that they set their ambition for. There are ‘no limits’ to what can be achieved in our school.

A reminder of some key dates as we approach the end of this academic year:

Monday 3^rd May: Bank Holiday. School Closed.

Thursday 27^th May: Parental Consultation via ‘Zoom’ to discuss updated and statutory Sex and Relationships Education in school from September 2021. Pupils have received a letter to take home on Thursday 20^th May. All parents welcome to attend and we look forward to seeing you there! Additional opportunities for telephone or face-to-face consultation can be organised if required.

Friday 28^th May: School closes for Half Term.

This will be a very special day in school as we celebrate the feast of our patronage the Holy Trinity. To coincide with ‘World Culture Day’ on the 30^th May, our whole community are encouraged to wear clothing that represents heritage, culture and family tradition. In addition, special foods from all around the world will be served at lunch. We will remember all people around the world who face religious or cultural persecution and will donate money to support refugees and those who are seeking asylum. We see this as a positive way to end another busy half term.

Monday 7^th June: School reopens at normal times.

Wednesday 9^th June: Year 11 Final Day in School. Timings to be confirmed, with some final celebrations planned, restrictions permitting.

Friday 16^th July: School closes for pupils and they begin their summer break. Pupils to leave in staggered exit times from 12.30 – 12.45.

The start of the following week will be remaining INSET time for staff and will see an acceleration in the school buildings work project.

We are aiming to run a ‘Summer School’ for new Year 7 pupils and children in our current Year 7 who would most benefit from this extra provision from Wednesday 21^st July – Friday 30^th July. More details to follow.

Please look out for further information via text message, pupil email, ‘Microsoft Teams’ messages, updates to this website, or letters posted to your homes.

Thank you for your continued support.

With every best wish for a good weekend.

Mr Crehan