Dear parents and carers

We have now completed a full week with all students back in school and feedback from staff has been really positive about how the students have settled. They have shown great resilience and have been calm, supportive and adapted well to being back in the classroom. I have been impressed by the maturity shown by students to LFD testing.  Thank you for your ongoing support with this, it has been excellent to have so many students taking the test. All year groups had over 80% uptake with one year group being over 90%. Next Friday the LFD testing kits will be sent home as we will have completed the three tests in school with students.  Further details regarding this will follow early next week.

Unfortunately, we had a positive LFD reading yesterday in school. This has highlighted an asymptomatic student. You should all have received a letter from me last night. The advantage of the tests is we can become aware if someone is a carrier and make the necessary adjustments to make everyone safer. 

We have used the opportunity of returning from lockdown to reset our expectations around attendance, attitude, effort, behaviour and uniform. It is like coming back in September for a fresh start. I have led all assemblies this week making sure students are clear about our Covid procedures and that they feel fully supported.

The time is upon us for Year 9 to start considering the subjects they would like to study for their options.  This week, options packs went out to all students, with information to help them make their choices.  Please visit the website where the subject videos are available to watch. The Virtual Options Evening is Wednesday 17 March with the deadline to book appointments with subject specialists being Monday 15 March at 1pm.  The online options form will go live 18 March.  If any further help is required on this, please ask your child to speak to their tutor or Head of Year.

Have a lovely weekend

Karen Begley

Head of School – Carisbrooke College