WEAVERHAM HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER October 2020 In a world which continues to feel strange, I begin with a reminder that there are things we certainly can control – namely our determination to be the best version of ourselves. The Weaverham Way could not be more apt at this time, and we ask each member of our school community to reflect on the ambition they set for themselves. In staff meetings we’ve referred to it as our 2020 Legacy. Let us not worry about the things we cannot control, but focus on what we can do and what we can achieve. Setting the highest expectations for ourselves combined with nurture and support One of my assemblies this term took inspiration from Ruth Bader Ginsburg whose opening quote gives us the sense that ‘my best is good enough’. I have used a number of opportunities since our return to school to acknowledge the excellent way our pupils have embraced school life and that fine start has continued into October. It is a balancing act to run a school in such challenging times as none educational issues sit as the highest priority on our agenda – safety, wellbeing, planning for the unknown to mention just a few. That is why, when we walk in classrooms and see engaged learners, challenging misconceptions, setting high expectations from themselves and those around them, there is a real sense of pride and achievement. We must keep that momentum going, recognise work ethic and champion it. After all, Ofsted in March 2020 told us something we already knew, “Weaverham High School is a wonderful place to learn” and “our pupils show a great deal of respect for each other and their teachers” and it is these strong foundations have enabled us to thrive in such an unsettle time. Our sense of community spirit and our understanding of the role we all play is another reason this autumn term has been so successful. We mustn’t become complacent; we have long winter term ahead that is likely to bring even more challenges for us. We are in a good position to manage and cope with such adversities because we will continue to listen, adapt and communicate and play our role to the best of our ability. And so I draw upon the inspiration of Ruth Bader Ginsburg wise words in the understanding that unified and together we will achieve greatness. The Difference – Inclusive Leadership This year Mr Harris will be working in close collaboration with a team of Inclusive Leadership experts. The Difference is a national organisation who exist to improve the life-outcomes of the most vulnerable children in society. Through evidenced based research and working with MPs (Edward Timpson OBE and David Lammy). The Difference have created a school-led leadership programme that seeks to ensure school approaches, multi-agency working, learning and wellbeing provision successfully meets the needs of all members of the school community. Mr Harris has already embarked on the research programmes and developed links with school leaders across the UK. Although in its infancy, many schools from North to South have been interested in our inclusive ethos and strategic approaches through our Safe, Ready Respect and Thrive initiatives. We are excited to be able to develop these strong networking links and learn from other schools to make sure our provision is the very best it can be. The founder of The Difference Karen Gill appeared on Radio 4 last week to share her story and to explain how The Difference aims to change the lives of many. To listen to Karen’s inspirational journey, click on the link below: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mr6m Aspirational Pupils Year 8 pupil Abby Lowe has raised £155 for WWF she made posters` and distributed flyers to draw up the support of her local community for a cake sale in her street. Commitment and resilience are two qualities we admire at Weaverham Year 8 pupil Esther Cook and so we must congratulate three determined pupils who completed the 34 miles of the Sandstone trail, (Frodsham to Whitchurch) over 3 days. The adverse British weather didn't stop the girls as they completed ten and a half miles from Tarporley to Larkton Hall on difficult terrain, before the sun returned for day three and the relatively flat route from Bickerton Hill to Whitchurch. Neve said “We've never walked that far before but we just thought it would be a challenge we could all look forward to.” Year 8 pupil Neve Gatley Year 9 pupil Emily Jones Year 10 sporting superstar Isaac Millerchip has been offered a scholarship with Warrington Wolves RFL. Isaac who is a talented athlete in many disciplines caught the eye of Peter Farrell who is Head of Talent Identification at the club. Isaac also trains and plays for Sale Sharks so it will be a ruck and a maul to see which code he finally chooses! Well done Isacc, we are immensely proud of your achievement. Stretch and Challenge In the summer term we informed our pupils of the opportunity to take place in the Global Social Leaders summer programme. Year 8 pupils Sophie Grattidge and Lilian Hadingham took on the challenge, and with great results. In true team spirit, the girls worked together to complete the GSL Summer Catalyst @Home project. The organisers of the project were thrilled with the work completed they commented “We are so impressed with every single participant who has taken positive action during Covid-19. You have contributed to making the world a better place and we salute you for it!” Well done girls! Reading Millionaires A huge congratulations to those 74 students in Year7, 8 and 9 who became reading millionaires last year. Make sure you collect your certificates and keep reading. Young Writers Well done to Sophie Grattidge who entered a Young Writer's competition and was published in the `Through your Eyes’ book. `Through Their Eyes’ invited students aged from 11 to 18 to write a poem from someone or something else's point of view. Sophie received a special certificate for her `Talent for Writing’. Weaverham High School Plans for Tier 2 Local Restrictions Rationale The government has asked that every school plans for the possibility of local restrictions and how they will ensure continuity of education in exceptional circumstances where there is some level of restriction applied to education or childcare in a local area. In local areas where restrictions have been implemented for certain sectors (from national direction), it is expected that our school will usually remain fully open to all, with the additional requirement that face coverings should be worn by staff and students in schools from year 7 and above, outside classrooms when moving around communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained (tier 1 onwards). There may be exceptional circumstances in which some level of restriction to school is required in a local area. In those situations, restrictions will be implemented in a phased manner, the key aim being to retain as much face-to-face education and access to childcare as possible. These ‘tiers of restriction’ will ensure that extensive limitations on education are a last resort, and that priority is given to vulnerable children and children of critical workers for face-to-face provision in all cases. Overview of Tiers Tier 1: involves remaining fully open, as the government has been clear that ensuring schools and educational settings remain open should be prioritised over other areas when restrictions are considered. Tier 2: asks secondary schools to adopt a rota system. Full-time on-site provision should remain available for all vulnerable children and young people, who are expected to attend full-time, and for the children of critical workers who require this. Tier 2 will only be adopted where it is necessary and safe to do so, and is primarily a means of reducing risks for the wider community even further by limiting contacts and breaking transmission chains in secondary schools. Tier 3: requires secondary schools to limit on-site attendance to just vulnerable children and young people, the children of critical workers and selected year groups. In the event of tier 3 local restrictions being implemented the Department for Education will issue operational guidance for the affected area that will confirm which year groups should be prioritised. Tier 4: goes further to limit attendance to just vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers at all settings Tier 2 A rota system will limit the number of pupils on-site at any one time and break transmission chains within schools when scheduled time at home is long enough for the onset of symptoms to be detected before returning. Rota lengths should not be any shorter than one week as this does not provide sufficient time off-site for symptoms to present. Schools should plan to utilise time over the weekend effectively in order to prepare for a different rota group at the start of the week. We will have Year 7 and Year 10 pupils in school on the same rota and Years 8,9 and 11 on the second rota. Rota options: 2 weeks on followed by 2 weeks off (10 days on-site, with a weekend in between, followed by 16 days at home). This allows more than sufficient time for symptoms to present themselves and for pupils to self-isolate and avoid transmitting the virus to others. One week rota (5 days on-site, followed by 9 days at home) if this is necessary for the effective delivery of the curriculum.