Harrow Way Community School

Details on Rapid Testing for Students at Home can be found here.

Please report your results to the school on this form.

Dear Parent/Carer

We hope that everyone in your household is well and that your children are looking forward to coming back to school. Below is the schedule for the way in which each year group is planned to return to school during the week commencing 8th March.

I have never been so proud of our young people – they have been amazing this week coming in for their Lateral Flow Tests. On a personal note, I remain grateful but also humbled by the support you as parents have given to our school over the past year. We will endeavour not to let you down.

Our feedback from parents and students on remote learning, have shown us that the approach we have adopted this time, with the use of live lessons, has been well received and helped engage pupils with their learning. In addition, staff have been working together to develop different strategies to deliver learning, give pupils feedback and assess their learning. It is no substitute for being in a classroom together, but we are confident that pupils have continued to learn and, in many cases, develop new skills during this period of lockdown. Read more…

Dear Parent/Carer

You will no doubt be aware that it has been announced that all students will return to school from Monday 8th March; we are so excited to be seeing everyone again! The challenge will be around onsite testing. Please be patient as we plan how best to manage this. The Government has given us the opportunity to have a staged reopening from 8th March to carry out the testing. Further details will follow later in the week.

The operational arrangements of the school will remain as they did in the Autumn Term.

Testing is voluntary but, for the safety of all, we are encouraging as many students as possible to participate. If you have not yet given consent for your child, please complete their details on this form.

Please note that we have postponed the INSET Day previously set for Tuesday March 9th.

Additional Measures –  Headlines

Read more…

Dear Parents and Carers

Children’s Mental Health Week 

Welcome to February! We are now less than two school weeks away from the February half term. The school will be closed fully from Monday, February 15th and will reopen for critical worker and vulnerable students from Monday, February 22nd.

You will no doubt have followed stories in the press over the past few days suggesting that the current lockdown and school closures will have a detrimental impact on the life chances of all pupils. From my perspective, I do not think it helpful for politicians or figures in the media to comment on what may or may not be. We have wonderful young people in our school, and we are so very proud of them. They should not be down-hearted or concerned with a future none of us can predict. All we can say is that from a school perspective we will do our utmost to support them.

For me, it matters more that your child remains happy and feels supported. Sometimes the key to doing well in school is how happy and content a pupil is. Actually – this matters more than perhaps we realise. Young people are amazing. They are resilient and can adapt. 

Read more…

Dear Parent or Carer

We were all set to send this letter out on the 4th January, but then the country went into lockdown.

We are working to keep our school as safe as possible. You may have heard that testing for those without coronavirus symptoms is beginning across the country using new, quicker COVID-19 tests known as ‘lateral flow tests’.

Along with the other protective measures we are taking, these tests will help staff and students to remain in school safely. Up to one third of people who have coronavirus experience no symptoms. By testing we will help to stop the virus spread and help to keep our school open as safely as possible. This will need consent from parents and is not compulsory.

Once the government decides that the conditions are right to plan for reopening schools fully, we will be looking at commencing mass testing of whole year groups before students start coming back in for their regular lessons.

We expect to start rapid testing with key staff who are currently working in school. After this, we hope to roll out rapid testing to the children of Key Workers and Vulnerable students in school where consent has been given.

Read more…

Dear Parents/Carers,

I am writing to you following yesterday evening’s announcement that as of midnight we are entering a national lockdown, this means schools will remain closed until February half term, hopefully reopening on Monday 22nd February 2021.

Whilst I am aware this will be difficult for many of you, given the latest statistics this is completely the right decision to protect your family. 

Year 11 have also had the devastating news that exams in the normal format are cancelled; however, it is essential they continue to work and attend lessons, as what they do in these will influence their GCSE awarded grades. As yet we have had no indication of how GCSE’s will be awarded, therefore Year 11 must continue to work as if GCSE’s were taking place. School has not finished for Year 11 – they still have 6 months left. Read more…

Dear Parent/Carer

Thank you for all the supportive emails and comments, you have no idea how they bolster us in such a time of uncertainty. We are entirely committed to delivering what is right for our school, our community. With this in mind, I share with you here the guidance from the Department for Education. This delayed opening was not unexpected, and I truly believe it is the right decision for maintaining student, staff and our families’ safety and well-being. 

The next two weeks

Monday 4th – Friday 8th January: all students in Years 7-11 to be working remotely from home, except the students identified as especially vulnerable and those of critical key worker families who have requested a place.

Monday 11th – Friday 15th January: Year 11 students back into school for lessons, years 7-10 working remotely from home.  Vulnerable and critical key worker children working in school.  Read more…

Dear Parent/Carer

I am sorry that I am contacting you during the Christmas holiday period. However, I felt it was important that you receive the following update. Many of you will have seen the news today announcing the delayed opening of secondary schools to all students. You will know that at Harrow Way we pride ourselves on being well ahead in the planning, but we heard this at the same time as the rest of the country. Therefore, Year 11 are planned to return on the 11th January 2021 and Years 7 to 10 from the 18^th January. Read more…