Wednesday 18 March 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update – Partial Closure Thursday 19 March

I am afraid as predicted, staff and student absence has increased following the further restrictions advised by the government and Public Health England earlier this week. As it is likely the absence will continue to increase, it is with regret I will need to partially close the School. This will be with immediate effect for Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12 from tomorrow, Thursday 19 March 2020 until further notice.

Students in Year 9 will be given work uploaded to Show My Homework for tomorrow. If your child does not have access to Show My Homework, there will be printed packs available in Reception to collect from 9:30am. Students in Year 10 still on external work experience placements should continue unless otherwise directed by their employers or health professionals. Any Year 10s on our school site will need to stay at home from tomorrow, resources for these students will be uploaded on Show My Homework. Year 12 will have work set through Show My Homework or online sessions through Microsoft Teams. Please bear with us in this regard, Year 12 teachers are scheduled to receive training on Teams this afternoon.

To clarify this means that we are still open to Years 7, 8, 11 and 13 tomorrow (Thursday 19 March 2020) and to Year 13 ONLY on Friday 20 March 2020.

In addition, a reminder that school will be closed to all students on Friday 20 March 2020, except Year 13 who will continue with their mock examinations. On Friday, teachers will also have refresher training on Show My Homework and Microsoft Teams followed by time in their departments to collate resources, which can be promptly shared with parents and students should the school close.

We will endeavour to support parents whose occupations find them in the frontline of managing the response to the Coronavirus epidemic by seeking to keep the children of these parents at school in the event of a part closure. In order for us to be best prepared, please could you email admin@sns.hackney.sch.uk if you are in one of the following occupations: healthcare, education, social services and emergency services and you do not have access to childcare in the event of partial closure for Years 9, 10 and 12 on Thursday 19 March and or the full closure on Friday 20 March.

For members of our school community who are entitled to Free School Meals, please look out for a text message from Sophie Preedy, our Office Manager today.

Lastly, the government are giving daily updates, so should anything change for schools, I will communicate this later this evening. I am very grateful to your support and understanding at such a testing time. To those of you who have taken the time to send your good wishes and messages of support, a very big thank you, the staff here are very grateful and this certainly helps us to keep going.

Click here for Show My Homework

With kind regards,

Zehra Jaffer

Headteacher