Dear parents, 

I hope you are all well as we approach the end of the penultimate week of term. We will issue a final newsletter next week but, in the meantime, here is the latest weekly update. 

COVID 19 

It has certainly been a lot quieter these last two weeks (touch wood!). You might have seen in the press today that the government have announced a reduction in the length of self-isolation to 10 days. That’s good news to those Year 8 students who have been out of the school this week. They can now return from Monday and Mr Towers is organising an email to their parents as I type this. 

Track and Trace 

The Department for Education have asked schools to continue their role in ‘Test and Trace’ into the Christmas holidays and of course we will do so. I’ll be in touch again next week about this but as ever the method of contacting the school will be to email: 

admin@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk 

End of Term 

Our plan for the end of term are, more or less, as they always are. We will run a half day on Friday 18^th with a staggered finish starting at 12 o’clock (Year 7 12.00, Year 8,9,10 and 12 at 12.05 and Year 11 and 13 at 12.10). The final day will include a whole school assembly (delivered by video) and various tutor group activities. Students can wear a Christmas jumper over their uniform if they wish. I’ll have to see if I can dig mine out! 

Examinations in the summer 

The DfE have confirmed that examinations are definitely going ahead in the summer for years 11 and 13. More details about the materials that will be examined is due to be released at the end of January.  

The school’s internal data is very positive about both Year 11 and Year 13. Year 11 are ahead of where their counterparts were two years ago in terms of value added, and Year 13 are exactly where we would expect them to be. 

Of course, we know that individuals in both of those year groups will be nervous about the situation and we promise to support them well in the lead up to the exams.  

Carol Concert 

My thanks to the music department and the students who featured in our 2020 carol concert. It was a lovely event and I enjoyed watching it at home with my family. 

The School Film 

Finishing touches are being made to the school film which is due for its ‘world premiere’ next Wednesday. More details to follow. It promises to be a box office smash hit! 

Its Friday again! Have a nice weekend.  

Dominic Burke