29 April 2020
Dear Parents/Carers
I hope you have all had a good week despite the ongoing lockdown situation. We are seeing some wonderful examples of creative and detailed work from our students. Can I ask that you continue to encourage them to keep up their efforts and to attempt as much work as they can within reason, as well as making some time for exercise, reading, music and fun activities.
Information for Years 11 and 13 students
I would like to highlight to you the guidelines issued to us by Ofqual that we MUST adhere to: ‘Centres must not, under any circumstances, share Centre Assessment grades nor the rank of students with students, or their parents/carers or any individuals outside the centre. The process, therefore, for calculating student grades is strictly confidential so unfortunately the College is unable to discuss the Centre Assessment Grades for any student’.
Confirmation of the dates for the release of Examination Results
- 13th August 2020 AS/A Level results day
- 20th August 2020 GCSE results day
Information for Years 9 and 10
The consultation from Ofqual on using a similar system of Centre Assessment Grades for Year 9 and 10 students ends today and we will update you with the outcome as soon as we are informed.
On-site provision for Critical Workers’ children and Vulnerable students
Please note that our on-site provision will not be operating on the Bank Holiday on Friday 8 May.
Request for feedback from parents on the recording of on-line lessons
You may be aware that we are trialling the delivery of online lessons with some groups using Microsoft Teams to enhance the remote learning opportunities available to students. At present these lessons are not recorded but we are mindful of the fact that not all students are able to access online lessons at the time they are scheduled. We are therefore exploring the possibility of extending our trial to recording lessons and making them available to those students who are unable to participate ‘live’. This will mean that video and audio of students participating in the live lesson is recorded and viewable by other class members. Recordings may also be shared between staff for training purposes but will not be retained beyond the end of the current academic year. While we are confident that students viewing recorded lessons will benefit from seeing and hearing their peers’ contributions to lessons, given the data protection implications we are keen to get feedback from students and parents to ensure we are properly considering the interests of students whose data will be processed in this way. If you have any feedback about our proposed approach, please email it to DataProtectionOfficer@collingwood.surrey.sch.uk by 5pm on Friday 1st May. We may not be able to reply directly to all individuals who submit feedback, but all responses received will be considered before we decide on the appropriate way forward.
Reporting
Given the unprecedented situation that we are in we have decided that we will not be publishing any further student reports in this academic year. I am sure parents will understand that there is little more meaningful information we can pass on to you at the moment and that staff time is currently much more profitably used by them remotely providing work for students and working on the Centre Assessment grades for our students who would have taken examinations in the summer.
Safe Space Health
Safe Space Health is a website designed by Surrey school nurses in partnership with young people for 11-14-year olds to give them a safe space to find the answers to all their questions about growing up and staying healthy. For more details please see the letter published today on our website.
Department for Education Coronavirus Helpline
The Department for Education Coronavirus Helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687 Opening hours: 8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday
Reopening of Schools
We await further news from the government regarding when and how schools will reopen. I would like to reassure you that we are working on a range of scenarios in anticipation of any announcement with the health and safety of staff and students our key priority.