End of Year Letter from Dr Reid

Dear Parents,

We have at last reached the end of what has been a most unusual school year. Never have we experienced circumstances like we have lived through in the past few months. I would like to thank you for the support you have given to your children to help them keep learning throughout the disruption.

You will, of course, have many questions about what the new school year will bring. You will be aware that the Department for Education has issued guidelines on how schools are to operate from August, and that Years 12 and 14 will return to school on 24 August. After that the guidance sets out some basic requirements in terms of social distancing and aims to have as many pupils back to school as possible from 1 September. As things stand, we have put planning in place to allow pupils to return to school in the new school year. We have planned both for a full return to school for everyone, but with the current social distancing requirements, we have also planned a model which will accommodate 50% of the pupils in any one week, and which would require a “week about” model allowing pupils to be taught in school for one week and then to complete additional work at home the following week. We have created detailed plans regarding classrooms, cleaning and disinfecting, pupil movement etc. It is likely that the situation in mid-August will be different to today, and we are ready to adapt our plans at the last minute, either to allow larger numbers of pupils to return if appropriate, or to support pupils in terms of distance learning in the event of a second lockdown. Because the situation remains fluid, I will write to you again in August when we will hopefully have a much clearer idea of how schools will be required to operate.

While it is easy to focus on the challenges we have faced in the past few months, it is important that we also remember the successes that the school has experienced. Sporting success has been strong in the past year, the Music department continues to deliver high quality performances and the school is set to welcome over 130 new pupils to Year 8 in September. The extra-curricular life of the school continues to flourish - our newly formed Cadet Force has grown in number and pupils continue to take advantage of a wide range of opportunities outside the classroom. When normality returns, these opportunities will continue to offer Larne High School pupils the possibility to develop and extend their skills and aptitudes in all sorts of ways.

Looking ahead to the new school year, there are a number of practical issues to be considered.

School Uniform

The local retailers have been able to secure the full stock of LHS uniforms for boys and girls and parents should purchase uniform as normal. Should anyone encounter a problem with uniform due to the current circumstances we will take a common sense approach in September. Sports kit is available to purchase online as usual.

School Meals

We have been advised that the canteen will be rebuilt in the coming months and that it should be fully functioning sometime after Christmas. We have plans in place to offer school meals with social distancing and these will be available to all pupils from September.

Payments

I would ask that parents familiarise themselves with our electronic payment system. The Covid-19 situation means it will be very difficult to process cash in school and it should only be used for school meals. Other payments should be made, as far as possible, by ParentMail.

External Examinations

A Level and BTEC Level 3 Results

Normally pupils come to school to receive their results. At the moment, results will be posted to pupils to arrive on Thursday 13 August. If pupils require additional careers advice after receiving results they should contact the school by telephone.

GCSE, BTEC and other Level 2 qualifications

All Level 2 results will be available on Thursday 20 August. It is important that young people receiving these results have the opportunity to discuss their next step with the Senior Staff, especially if they want to return to Year 13 at Larne High. I will send further guidance on how GCSE results day will operate closer to the time in August.

Please note that all grades received by pupils have been awarded by the Examination Boards and not the school. While teachers have been asked to submit their calculated grades, the information we have supplied is subject to moderation by each awarding body and they have the final say on the grade that should be awarded. An appeal against a grade can only be made to the awarding body (not to the school) and will only be upheld if it can be demonstrated that the awarding body did not follow their procedures.

While I am hopeful that the outcomes will continue to improve in line with our recent trend, I am also considering some ways that we may be able to support any Year 12 pupils who have not received the outcomes they had hoped for. I will give more information on the full range of options available in the school in mid-August.

I hope everyone can enjoy a break at some point in the coming weeks and I very much look forward to working with you in the new school year and welcoming your children back to Larne High School as soon as possible.

With best wishes

Stephen Reid

Principal