Home Learning Support

The following documents will support with accessing Microsoft Teams and home learning:

Teams – guidance for parents on live lessons

Home learning checklist Y7 and Y8

Home learning checklist Y9 and Y10

Friday 18^th December 2020

Notification of INSET day Monday 4^th January 2021 in response to mass testing protocols

Dear Parent/Carer,

In response to recent Government guidance surrounding mass-testing of secondary-age pupils, St Bede’s will be closed to all year groups on Monday 4 January.  This day will be an INSET day for staff in order that staff can be trained, testing kits can be accepted on site, consent for all pupils can be sought, and logistics surrounding testing can be finalised.  This will help ensure that we are providing the safest possible learning environment for our pupils.

Should you wish to read further information about the testing plans, please see the following announcement from the Department for Education (DfE):

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-and-childcare-settings-return-in-january-2021/schools-and-childcare-settings-return-in-january-2021

As stated in previous communications, and in accordance with Government guidance, there will still be a staged return of pupils to St Bede’s:

• All pupils in Years 11 and 13 will return to school on Tuesday 5 January 2021 in preparation for their preliminary examinations later in the month.
• Pupils who are vulnerable or those who are the children of key workers will also be able to return to school on Tuesday 5 January 2021. We have already contacted these families. If you believe your child falls into this category and you have not been contacted can you please inform your child’s Head of House immediately. For safeguarding purposes, we must know who will be returning to school to make secure provision; regrettably, we will not be able to accept students that we have not been formally notified of.
• Pupils in all other year groups (7,8,9,10,12) will return for face-to-face teaching on Monday 11 January 2021.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. We understand that this late Government decision will also place additional pressures on your families until we can welcome all year groups back on January 11 2021.  I wish you a happy and healthy Christmas, and we look forward to safely welcoming students back to school in the new year.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs F. Craik

Acting Executive Head Teacher

We are approaching the final week of what has been a challenging yet rewarding term. Whilst the challenges schools have faced have been well documented in the media, less has been said of the many positives that have come out of these extraordinary circumstances. Our staff has witnessed first hand the determination, resilience and humour of St Bede’s students; their commitment to learning, progressing and achieving has ensured that school has remained a place of happiness and hope. We thank them for this. Our Advent wreath and Christmas trees have added a little seasonal charm to school and we have enjoyed playing festive tunes each morning as the students arrive. 

On Thursday 17 December, students are invited to wear a Christmas jumper for school. They must wear their full school uniform but may wear the Christmas jumper over their shirt. They must still have all other items and ensure no prohibited items are worn – please check the uniform policy on our website if you are unsure. Usually, we’d ask for a small donation to be brought in for charity. This year, please could you donate to a charity of your choice (if you are undecided, we think the local food banks are a worthy cause). It is not compulsory to wear the jumper – only if students would like to.

Also on Thursday 17 December, our catering team will be serving a Christmas roast dinner at lunchtime. Students have already indicated if they would like this option – other food is available. Lessons 4, 5 and 6 will be dedicated to serving Christmas lunch to each year group bubble and, when not eating, enjoying some Christmas cheer and watching a televised pantomime in tutor groups. 

Term finishes on Friday 18 December and buses will collect students at the earlier time of 12.25pm. Students entitled to free school meals will be able to collect a packed lunch as they leave. (Eligible parents/carers will receive a message via the Xpressions app on Monday 14 December. Please reply if you wish for your child to have the packed lunch.) The school day will begin with a socially distanced Christmas Carol service in tutor groups. This year we cannot congregate together nor sing but we are ensuring that the true message of Christmas is the focal point of our final day together before the holiday. Following that, students will remain in their tutor groups until the end of the day where Years 7-10 and Year 12 will enjoy a Christmas quiz. Years 11 and 13 will use the time to prepare their holiday revision as they have their preliminary/mock exams in January and will then join in the quiz.

The spring term begins on Monday 4 January 2021 and it will be a ‘Week A’ on the timetable. From January, Mrs Cessford will now be St Bede’s Acting Head of School, with support from Mrs Craik who will be Acting Executive Headteacher. We fully intend to reopen on January 4 2021 but acknowledge that we may not have a full staffing picture until January 3 2021. If we do encounter any disruption we will communicate this to parents and carers on the morning of January 4, so please check our website before sending pupils to school that day in case we cannot offer all year groups an immediate return.

We look forward to the new year and hope that you all enjoy a safe, holy and merry Christmas.

St Bede’s wishes to confirm that we will remain open on Friday 18^th December with pupils leaving school at 12.25pm. We are not holding an INSET day on this date. On Friday 11th December, students will bring home a letter with more details about our end of term.