Dear Parent / Carer
The start of term for TPS Virtual School is Monday 20th April. Following on from the Government’s announcement yesterday (Thursday 16th April) we will be continuing in lockdown. We will continue to provide our students with meaningful learning experiences and be there to support their pastoral and wellbeing needs.
TPS Supporting the NHS & Local Care Home Colleagues
As a community school we pride ourselves on supporting the community as much as we can. Over the last few weeks we have been able to provide much-needed PPE equipment for members of the NHS and Care Home community. Masks and goggles from the stock in our D&T workshop have been donated to the Central & North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust and to Barnet ambulance station, plus Mr Hassett has used the laser cutter to produce visors (see picture above) for Garden House Hospice, Danesbury Neurological Rehab Unit, OmerCare, and Westbourne and Elmside care homes.
Student Engagement
In the last Keeping In Touch document sent out by Heads of Year there was an online survey that all students were asked to complete. Please check with your child / children to see if they have completed this survey.
Key Stage 3
The subject rotations for KS3 are outlined below. If you feel that your child needs to complete more work then there are additional online resources that can be used – please visit the school website and click on the Virtual Learning tab.
w/c Monday 20th April
Y7: Maths, Computing, Art and Geography
Y8: Science, History, Drama, P&E and Tech
Y9: English, MFL, Music and PE
w/c Monday 27th April
Y7: English, MFL, Music and PE
Y8: Maths, Computing, Art and Geography
Y9: Science, History, Drama, P&E and Tech
w/c Monday 4th May
(4-day week)
VE Day cross-curricular project
w/c Monday 11th May
Y7: Science, History, Drama, P&E and Tech
Y8: English, MFL, Music and PE
Y9: Maths, Computing, Art and Geography
w/c Monday 18th May
Y7: Maths, Computing, Art and Geography
Y8: Science, History, Drama, P&E and Tech
Y9: English, MFL, Music and PE
Key Stage 3 Cross-Curricular Project w/c Monday 4th May: VE Day
To celebrate VE Day I have asked a team of colleagues to produce cross-curriculum resources for students and their families to engage in. All other curriculum lessons for KS3 will be suspended for this week.
Year 10
Over Easter the Year 10 pastoral team have reviewed the feedback from students and parents/carers on the work being set. The feedback has been positive but there has been a regular theme that students may be struggling with the volume and to a degree the nature of the work being set. Miss Mulholland and Mrs Nearney will be liaising with Heads of Department next week (commencing Monday 20th) to gauge opinions on how best to move forward on this. The aim would be to have a new ‘timetable’ of learning in place for Monday 27th April. Until a review has been undertaken Year 10 will be following the same pattern as before the Easter break.
Year 12
Teaching will continue as previously indicated so there is no change on this front. The Post 16 team will be looking at what additional events need planning for in the next few weeks.
Year 11 & Year 13
A separate letter has been sent out to students and parents / carers from these two year groups.
Free school meals (FSM)
The new FSM national voucher system has had serious ‘teething problems’. We appreciate that this has caused challenges and please contact the school if you need additional support: Tony.foster@priory.herts.sch.uk.
Sanitary products
The school has a supply of sanitary products and if there is a need for some please use the pastoral@priory.herts.sch.uk email address to organise collection from the school.
School Website
Please note that the school website is currently undergoing maintenance due to increased usage and an ‘attack’ on it before Easter.
We face many uncertainties but humanity does shine through with the kind deeds that are happening every day in our community and at a national level. The Queen’s speech in my opinion epitomised the deep resolve we have as a nation to face and overcome the challenges of this COVID-19 pandemic.
Please stay safe and remember we are here for you and your child/children.
Kind regards
Geraint Edwards