Principal's update- 18th September 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you for your continued support in getting all pupils back into school safely over the past few weeks. All at Derby Pride Academy are committed to providing the best education possible for your child, while securing the health and safety of our whole school community. Thank you for continuing to follow public health guidelines and encouraging your child to do the same.
You are already aware of the steps we have implemented to ensure the safe return of all pupils to school. We know that you will be keen to understand the impact that we have had in our first weeks of the term, what our plans are to ensure all pupils catch up with any missed learning and what will happen if a pupil is asked to stay at home over the coming months.
I am writing to you today in order to keep you fully informed. This letter will also be published openly on our website and is being sent to our governors.
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Derby Pride Academy reopening |
We have altered our start and finish times to avoid travel at peak times; however, once in school, lessons are timetabled as normal. We have adopted a whole school bubble and invited all of our pupils to attend full time.
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Attendance |
Attendance for first week of opening: 74.69% Attendance to date: 74.26% Attendance for March to C19 closure: 60.07% National Average for PRU & AP: 69%
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Coverage of the curriculum |
Teachers are receiving ongoing information from the relevant exam boards regarding reduced content for forthcoming exams. This is reflected in lesson planning. In general, there is no reduced provision and we are striving to maintain as normal a return to education as possible. All teachers began the term with baselines to assess gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills, which they are addressing; however, this is normal practice at Derby Pride Academy.
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Remote learning March - July 2020 |
A total of 2940 communications were recorded over a 17 week period for 48 pupils.
This equates to an average of 61 communications per pupil or an average of 3.6 communications per pupil per week.
Pupils received hard copies of work studied. They were provided with workbooks as well as revision materials.
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Remote learning in the future |
Derby Pride Academy will provide virtual lessons via Microsoft Teams in the event of full school closure. Hard resources will also be distributed to ensure continuation of learning can occur in the event of individual isolation or short-term lockdown.
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Mental health and wellbeing |
Pupils are having targeted Mental Health sessions as part of PD. NCS have delivered a week of Healthy Living and post-COVID sessions. Hello Yellow (9th October) Mental Health Awareness Day planned. All pupils are screened for Mental Health and wellbeing through questionnaires. Website updated to include signposting to current support, which pupils are made aware of. x2 Mental Health First Aiders on site.
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Thank you for your support in these challenging times. Please remember to follow both the Derby Pride Academy’s and Public Health England’s guidance to keep everyone learning safely.
Should you have any queries, or wish to discuss the content of this letter, please contact your child’s Behaviour & Learning Practitioner in the first instance.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs K A Hayes