As we come to the end of our first week of remote learning, the change in approach is a learning process for us all and I truly believe that feedback is key to generating the best possible outcomes. For example, initial feedback suggested we should make the 5 minutes at the end of the lesson an optional google meet in order to generate more flexibility in our approaches to teaching and learning. We have now implemented this adaptation.
With this in mind, we are trying to gain a more comprehensive understanding of your experiences so far in order to consider how to make further improvements as we strive to deliver on our key aims, which are:
– To reflect students’ existing timetables as far as possible and take attendance
– Enable progression in every child’s learning – it is not just revision or consolidation
– Ensure that a teacher is online and contactable at least for a part of each lesson in the student’s timetable, using our learning technology platforms.
I would therefore be grateful if you could take 5 to 10 minutes to complete the parent survey:
The Secondary Leadership Team will use this information, alongside teacher and student survey feedback, to plan forward and continue to improve our provision over the next few weeks.
I also know that this period of time will bring a level of uncertainty to our students and we will aim to keep regular contact in order to inform you of any changes we are making. With this in mind, I would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to note the following:
– The deadline for the Year 11 students to make their choices for IBDP/IBCP has now been extended to March 11th. Mr McCann has given further detail in an earlier email.
– The school show, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, will go ahead in June with dates to be confirmed shortly.
Finally, a specific update for parents of Year 13 students. If the school re-opens on Monday 2 March as currently planned, we are confident that all students, with the support of their teachers, will be able to fulfil all course requirements by the normal deadlines. We are still planning to go ahead with the trial exams upon our return in early March. Should the period of school closure period be extended, we will liaise with the IB and put into place several measures to support students with coursework completion. The IB have well-established procedures to support students who have experienced any kind of adverse circumstance. These procedures include extending submission deadlines, and in certain cases allowing for the incomplete submission of assessment tasks while still being awarded an overall grade. The College, and ESF as a whole, are in regular contact with the IB regarding issues of this nature. Regarding the final exam session in May, at the moment there is every intention of the exams going ahead as planned.
Thank you for taking your time to digest this information and it would be great if you could complete the survey by Sunday evening.
We hope that you and your family enjoy a well deserved rest over the weekend. Take care and please be assured that we will continue to do our utmost to ensure the best possible learning experiences for all students at Discovery College.
Mark Poulsum
Head of Secondary