Headteacher's update - SNS Home Learning

Dear Parent/Carer,

I do hope this letter finds you in the best of health and that your week has started well. The Sunday dusting of snow certainly brought a wonderful moment of much needed joy.

It is now unlikely that schools will return to full opening after the February half-term and whilst hearing this may cause angst, ultimately, we know this is necessary for the safety of our community. We are all committed to keeping each other safe. Although it is hard now, these days will pass and throughout this period our community – staff, students, parents/carers and governors – have shown great resilience and compassion, forging forward despite the incredible uncertainty.

I sincerely thank everyone of you for all your support, feedback and understanding.

Year 11 and Year 13 Parents Forum – Ofqual Consultation - Tuesday 26 January from 2-3pm

We will hold a joint forum for the parents/carers of examination year groups - Year 11 and Year 13 – to consider the Ofqual consultation on proposals for the awarding of teacher assessed grades. It is important as many of us as possible participate in the consultation and this forum will give school staff and parents an opportunity to come together before the close of the consultation period at 23:45 on Friday 29^th January 2021. Please join using the link below sent last week to parents/carers of these year groups. A reminder for the link will also be sent shortly.

Year 11 Parent/Carers Evening

Our Year 11 Parents/Carers evening is scheduled for Wednesday 3^rd February 4.00-6.30pm. Given the unique nature of this year’s external examinations’ assessment procedures, I would be grateful if parents/carers could join at 3.50pm so that I may share with you the format and purpose of the parents’ evening.

Mock grades will be made available to you on Tuesday 2 February.

Please note that the mock examinations undertaken in January, have not been subject to department moderation and may be subject to some change to ensure fairness and consistency across the cohort.

SNS Home Learning

In this unique time, there are fantastic opportunities to review certain routines, so that they are better suited for where we find ourselves. With students spending much time in front of a digital screen, we have revisited homework for Years 7 and 8. This will be set in the form of daily meaningful enrichment activities linked to the wider curriculum and seeking to enhance cultural capital. Nine weeks of engaging activities have been created consisting of 45 tasks, one for each day.

Homework tasks will take many different forms. Students will be provided with a scrapbook to record outcomes of planning, designing, drawing, investigation, photography, physical activities and written tasks to consolidate or extend learning.

Throughout, students will work at their own pace and ability level. The assigned activities are achievable, inviting, personalised, efficient, purposeful and can all be completed without the use of a device. The homework calendar will be shared on the SNS website and set via tutors as a Teams assignment.

Parents/Carers and students will have to opportunity to collect a scrapbook from school on Monday 1^st Feb. More information on the organisation of the collection of the homework scrapbooks will be communicated late this week. English Bedrock vocabulary homework will continue as normal.

Key dates

Parent/Carer of BAME Students Forum

Dr Colin King OBE from the FA’s Hall of Fame of Football Coaches will be joining this session. A leading figure in Black and Asian Coaches Association, addressing issues related to diversity and inclusivity in football. If you wish to join the group, please email sop.pre@sns.hackney.sch.uk

I wish you a positive and safe week ahead. I finish today’s letter with a perfect Monday quote...

“Always take some of the play, fun, freedom, and wonder of the weekend into your week and your work.”- Rasheed Ogunlaru – Life Coach

With best wishes,

Zehra Jaffer