Dear Parent/Carer

Re: Strike Action

As you are aware, the membership of the National Education Union (NEU) has voted to take industrial action in schools across the country. The continuation of this strike action is for two days in July: Wednesday 5th July and Friday 7th July. I am writing to give you as much notice as possible about the likely impact this will have on our school.

This is a very busy time of year and we are aiming to provide as much continuity of learning as possible, whilst needing to recognise that without a full staff team some things need to be cancelled or postponed.

Our view, at present, is that we will be able to keep the school open on these days for some students with the following arrangements in place:

Wednesday 5th July:

(please note that some additional students may be invited into school in order to complete exams that they have missed due to absences)

Year group
13	No school – external exams have finished
12	In school – lessons as normal
11	No school – external exams have finished Prom to go ahead in evening
10	In school – lessons as normal
9	No school
8	No school
7	No school

Friday 7th July – Founder’s Day

(please note that those involved directly in the Founder’s Day Concert will be given specific instructions and are expected to be in school / at the church on the day)

Year group
13	No school – external exams have finished
12	In school – and will be attending the concert at the church
11	No school – external exams have finished
10	No school
9	In school – and will be watching a livestream of the concert in school
8	In school – and will be attending the concert at the church
7	No school

As is the custom on Founder’s Day, all students will be dismissed at the end of the concert (around 1pm)

Key vulnerable students:

There will also be a study provision for key vulnerable students – families will be contacted directly to ask if they will be using this.

Timings of the school day:

On Wednesday 5th July there will be no tutor time and the school day will finish at 2.30pm.

On Friday 7th July all students will be dismissed at the end of the concert (around 1pm).

Catering:

The school canteen will be open as usual for breakfast, break and lunch service on Wednesday 5th July.

On Friday 7th July the school canteen will be open as usual for breakfast and break. There will be a limited lunch service available but those students on FSMs will be able to collect their school packed lunch as breaktime.

Uniform / dress code:

For those students in school, the usual expectations around uniform and dress code will be in place.

Continuity of Learning:

Each week we collate work that parallels the work that is being covered in lessons. This can be accessed by students who, for whatever reason, are unable to be in their lesson. This work will be available for students next week and I would hope that those students who are not in school will access the work and ensure that their learning is not impacted too negatively by this industrial action.

This work can be accessed by students from their SharePoint site in Office 365.

I apologise for any potential inconvenience this causes you, but we are doing everything we can to minimise the number of pupils who are impacted by the industrial action.

It is unlikely that the industrial action will be called off, but if this were to happen, I will write to you to confirm that the school will be fully open.

If you have any questions or concerns about the alternative arrangements outlined above, please do contact me.

For a reminder of the many events that are running at the school between now and the end of term on Friday 21st July, please see the summary below:

26th June	Year 9 Braithwaite all week End of Year exams all week Year 8 Laser Tag Trip
27th June	Year 6 into 7 personalised induction morning Year 6 taster lesson online
28th June	Eid
29th June	Day 1: Year 12 Induction Day Year 10 trip to Sadlers Wells (Drama)
30th June	Day 2: Year 12 Induction Day D of E Expedition 1 (Friday and Saturday) Year 12 to London Olympia – Careers Event
3rd July	Year 12 Biologists and Geographers - Braithwaite all week End of Year exams all week Year 8 visit to Jamie’s Farm – all week Year 6 into 7 befriending event Year 13 Leaver’s Assembly Debating competition
4th July	Geography Field trip (Year 10) Trip to Gonville and Caius College Cambridge Year 6 online taster lesson Year 6 New Parent Information Evening
5th July	Year 6 into 7 personalised induction day Year 11 Prom
6th July	Year 6 into 7 Induction Day New staff Induction Day Founder’s Day rehearsals
7th July	Founder’s Day
Saturday 8th July	Khalsa running a uniform shop (11.00am to 3.00pm) at Westcombe Park site
10th July	Best in Everyone Awards Evening KPMG event (Years 10 and 12)
11th July	Year 10 Cultural Enrichment Day Year 13 Leaver’s Ball
12th July	Sports Day Year 12 into 13 Parent Information Evening
13th July	Ahoy Sailing course day 1 D of E Silver Expedition (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
14th July	Ahoy Sailing course day 2 Year 7 Science Museum trip
17th July	Year 12 Character Adventure Day School Play
18th July	JRSA Second-hand uniform sale School Play
19th July	Year 8 trip to London Zoo Year 10 Parent Evening
21st July	Last day of term – students dismissed at midday

Yours faithfully,

Cath Smith - Principal