First Minister's Announcement - Update 08/01/21

On Monday 4th January, we wrote to you to explain current arrangements for the start of term and promised to inform you of any further information. Sadly, as it has been such a difficult start to 2021 with Wales on alert level 4, and schools moving to remote learning, we were anticipating the decision made to close schools for a significant period.

We would like to update you today to provide you with the information we now have.

We are sure you are now aware, the First Minister has confirmed that they will bring the decision-making on schools into line with the Welsh Government’s three-week review timetable of 29th January. This means that pupils will continue to learn remotely and vulnerable children will have access to on-site provision until then. At that point, unless the rates of community transmission in Wales reduce significantly by 29th January, most pupils will continue working remotely until the February half term.

Teachers have worked very hard throughout this first week of term to update resources and practices in order to support learning at home. We know we cannot replicate school at home and that this continues to be a work in progress. However, teachers are continuing to trial a blend of learning approaches within a common framework, and these practices will evolve as we become more familiar with them over the next days and weeks.

We have decided to maintain the current timetable for all lessons next week as follows:

Lesson 1 – 9.00 -10.00

Lesson 2 – 10.00 – 11.00

Break – 11.00 – 11.20

Lesson 3 – 11.20 – 12.20

Lesson 4 – 12.20 – 1.20

Lunch – 1.20 – 2.00

Lesson 5 – 2.00 – 3.00

We are monitoring engagement in lessons and welcome your continued support in encouraging children to attend, participate and complete assigned work. Teachers will be online throughout each lesson, but please be patient as they may not always be able to respond to queries as quickly as they would be able to do in class.

We are fully aware of the practicalities of working at home, not least accessibility to computers or the internet. We have asked families to contact us if you have any difficulties with online access or any other problems in accessing learning at home.   

Qualifications 2021

We have also received notification that that the spring internal assessment window for GCSE, AS, and A level planned to take place between 22nd February and 23rd April, will no longer take place and new arrangements will be made. This decision was taken because the change to remote learning will affect preparation for these assessments. The Minister’s Design and Delivery Advisory Group will now be considering the way forward and further detailed information about revised arrangements will be made available shortly.

At Bryntirion, we want to assure all pupils in Years 11, 12 and 13 that we will do everything we can to support them throughout this unsettling time. In lessons, we will continue to work through the current (adapted) specifications as we have been promised an update from Qualifications Wales within the next two weeks about these revised arrangements.

We need to emphasise how important it is for pupils in exam groups to attend lessons and engage fully in home learning and the work set by their teachers. They may need to use their professional judgement again this year in making decisions to inform grades. If this is the case, decisions will be need to be based on available evidence.

We know that you will have many questions and concerns at this moment in time. We will continue to update you with any new information and provide, as best as we can, to support your children through our blended learning programmes.

Thank you for your continued support.