Posted Nov 29 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: November 6th 2020
Head's Blog
Dear parent,
I do hope that your child had a good break over half term.
When I wrote my last newsletter just before the holiday, none of us knew that we were two weeks away from a second period of national lockdown. Thankfully, this time schools are open and while I know that some students, staff and parents are anxious about this, it is important for the students to be in school for as long as possible and for us all to continue to follow the measures and controls we have in place to keep the school community safe. Updated guidance was published on Wednesday afternoon which outlined what schools need to do during this period of national restrictions. A good number of the measures are already in place at CGS but it is important to note what the guidance says about those who live in a home where there is someone deemed clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable or who are classed as such themselves, as the advice is different during this lockdown. The guidance says:
Clinically extremely vulnerable children:
- Most children originally identified as clinically extremely vulnerable no longer need to follow original shielding advice. Parents should be advised to speak to their child’s GP or specialist clinician if they have not already done so, to understand whether their child should still be classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
- Those children whose doctors have confirmed they are still clinically extremely vulnerable are advised not to attend whilst the national restrictions are in place.
- Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend education or childcare.
Clinically vulnerable children:
- Children who are clinically vulnerable or have underlying health conditions but are not clinically extremely vulnerable, may continue to attend/work in line with current guidance.
The guidance also outlined what schools can do in relation to extra-curricular activities at this time which has caused confusion and dismay. It says that while lunchtime activities can take place, those after school can only take place in certain circumstances eg when they provide wraparound care which enables parents to work. I am completely baffled by this as the guidance also talks about the importance of encouraging students to undertake physical activity and it is hard to see how doing sport after school in year group bubbles is any less safe than doing it during a timetabled lesson or at lunchtime. Sport is really important for mental as well as physical wellbeing and I am sad that the guidance says that our after school sessions cannot take place. There is a glimmer of hope in that my own and other professional associations have asked the DfE for clarification on this matter and, ever the optimist, I hope that after school clubs will be allowed to resume. If this happens, we will of course let you know.
Well done to Alex in year 11. Alex completed his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award last year and has just been awarded the 2020 Duke of Edinburgh Certificate of Achievement for the Silver Award. This is a special award recognising that while the 2020 expeditions have had to be suspended the other sections (volunteering, physical activity and skill development) have been completed during the lockdown period. Well done Alex. Very well done to Grace in Year 8 and Jade in Year 11 who each submitted a piece of creative work to the BUPA Foundation's 'Beyond Words', a national creative project for World Mental Health Day. Jade's entry was a piece of art and Grace's a poem and both have won a £40 book token. Fantastic! Finally, congratulations to Phoebe in Year 12 who has been offered a place on the Sutton Trust Pathways to Law programme at the London School of Economics.
Every year CGS students raise a significant amount of money for charities and one of the highlights of the Autumn term is the Christmas Party we host for over 100 of Chesham's elderly residents. We cannot invite our guests into school this year but our Head Girl, Jessica and Head Boy, Alexander, have instead decided to deliver a Christmas hamper to each of the residents who would usually attend. It is really good to see them thinking creatively about ways in which we can bring a little bit of Christmas cheer to the town's elderly, even in the current circumstances. Our Student Senior Charity Leaders, Thea and Eve in Year 13, are also working hard to ensure that we support both our local Foodbank and Toybank as we approach Christmas. They will be asking for donations of specific items and have, again, given careful thought to how this can be done safely. Well done to them too. I am really proud to see our Student Leaders working hard to continue the positive work we have always done in this most difficult of years.
Next week, our Year 11s have the first period of mock examinations and we wish them well. And finally, please be aware that Monday, 16th of November is one of our inset days for staff and so the school will be closed to students on that day.
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
