Headteacher Letter – 19th April 2021
April 2021
Dear parents / guardians,
Thank you for your support in securing such a positive first week back after the Easter break and we are grateful for your help in ensuring that students have returned with correct uniform. I hope that you managed to gain some time together over Easter and were able to meet family and loved ones outside, in line with the easing of national restrictions. The lighter mornings and good weather have heralded the start of the summer term, and we will of course continue in our mission to provide the best education possible in the safest way possible in the weeks ahead.
Coronavirus Protective Measures
We welcome the Department of Education’s decision to maintain consistency with all guidelines and a reminder that all protective measures remain in place from the last term.
Face coverings in all indoor areas remain a requirement and students have again been mature and responsible in adhering to the requirements. We appreciate parents providing appropriate face coverings as well as ensuring that students have spares.
Break and lunchtimes will remain outdoors only, unless there is significant bad weather. As per national guidance, outdoor social contact is much safer, and we try to ensure that indoor areas are as well ventilated as possible.
Coronavirus Testing
Thank you for your continued support with twice weekly testing of all students. We are issuing the next batch of testing kits for students who require these and thank you to parents and students for ensuring that these are completed as per the suggested schedule.
Attendance
I would like to remind you of the importance of full attendance for students. Unless your child is shielding, presents coronavirus symptoms or is very clearly sick, in the first instance, your child should attend school. Our medical needs coordinators can assess the needs if a child continues to feel unwell. We will call you should there be a need for them to go home.
There are occasions when a child may have to miss school because of illness or if they have long-term medical issues. If this is the case, parents must contact school the same day to let us know the reason why the child is not in school. Please ensure that you are familiar with our school processes for reporting absence, which can be found on the school website.
Uniform
As shops re-open, we expect all students to comply with our uniform and standards’ polices. Full checks are being conducted by form tutors and leadership during form sessions. For full details, I would like to refer you to my previous letter outlining uniform requirements – https://www.stepneyallsaints.school/uniform-update-19-03-21/
We have now implemented the ‘Rule of Blue’, meaning all students are expected to be in the correct uniform and blazer. If they have not yet received their PE kit (new embroidered PE kit is expected to arrive by May), students must arrive at school in a navy blue tracksuit for PE.
Consultation on move to a two week half term holiday in the autumn term
As you are aware, we conducted a consultation into a proposed change to increase the autumn half term holiday to two weeks instead of one. The change was approved by the school’s governing body. As a consequence, the term dates for the academic year 2021-22 are as follows:
Autumn Term
1st September 2021 – 21st December 2021 (1st – Inset Day, 2nd – Induction Day)
Half Term: 25th October – 5th November 2021 (2 weeks)
Spring Term
4th January 2022 – 1st April 2022
Half Term: 14th – 18th February 2022
Summer Term
19th April -22nd July 2022
Half Term: 30th May – 3rd June 2022
End of academic year 2022: 22nd July 2022
Our term dates are in line with other schools in Tower Hamlets. This includes the usual holiday dates for both Eid Al-Adha and Eid Al-Fitr. We believe that, given the disproportionate length of the autumn term, that this change will be beneficial to the school community and will have an encouraging effect on your child’s education.
Enrichment
The Enrichment Programme at Stepney All Saints offers a wide range of extracurricular activities to all of our students. The importance of activities beyond academic work must not be underestimated. Extracurricular activities complement our students’ studies to develop as well-rounded individuals. The enrichment programme for the summer term which lists the clubs that take place every week has been posted on our website. Copies are also available in our school reception.
As we mark key points in our faith community calendars with the start of the holy month of Ramadan and the conclusion of the Easter period for Christians, I would like to wish you all well and good luck to all of our students taking assessments in the coming weeks.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Woods
Headteacher