In light of the government’s announcement to close all schools from Friday afternoon, Kingsbury Green Academy will close at 3:00PM on Friday afternoon and will implement our distance learning strategy so that pupils can continue to learn from home.

The main mechanism for distance learning will be via the Show My Homework learning platform that all pupils currently use for homework. Pupils should log in to this website on a daily basis to complete the learning activities that teachers set. Where possible, teachers will monitor pupil progress remotely on days pupils have those lessons, answering any questions that pupils have and providing guidance as needed. However, where staff become ill or have to care for family members, this provision may be affected.

It is important to note that the Show My Homework learning platform is only the starting point for learning and the activities we set pupils will require them to access a range of resources, most of which are online. However, some subjects will require pupils to take home physical resources such as books. For pupils currently self-isolating, these resources will be available for collection from school reception between 1:20PM and 3:00PM on Friday at which point the school will close.

I repeat my previous request that if your child does not have access to the internet, please contact reception on 01249 818100 to inform them of your child’s name and tutor group. We will then put together a pack of physical resources that will enable them to continue learning whilst the school is closed.

Year 11 and Year 13 pupils will have many questions regarding what will happen over their summer exam results. At this point in time there is no detail from the government as to how pupils will be assessed so our advice is follow the above distance learning guidelines so that you are prepared for all eventualities.

The government’s announcement also stated that the school will remain open to vulnerable children and children with parents who are classed as Key Workers. The school is clear on who our vulnerable children are and we will be in contact with parents over the next two days to ascertain whether those parents wish to send their children to school. A further announcement will be made regarding arrangements for the children of Key Workers as soon as the government issues more clarity of who this involves, possibly this afternoon. In two parent families, it is likely that where one parent is a Key Worker and the other is not, there would be an expectation that the children are looked after by the non-Key Worker parent. If you think that you are a Key Worker, be prepared to email the school this evening or by lunchtime tomorrow if you intend to send your child in to school. We will require the child’s full name along with details of your place of work.

Finally, I would like to thank all those people who have sent in supportive messages to the school during what has been a very difficult week. Those messages are much appreciated.

Kind regards

Jason Tudor