Brooke Weston Academy

In addition to work being provided on Teams for our Year 10 students, we have also introduced a programme called Seneca to enhance their learning at home. Seneca is an online learning platform, whereby teachers can assign activities and tasks to students. This gives students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of a particular topic area and also provides teachers with their outcomes. This, in turn, clearly indicates strengths and target areas of each student and gives students the opportunity to revisit and consolidate past topic areas.

As a department we are really encouraging students to interact with this as much as they can. Teachers have been (and will continue) to direct students to relevant tasks, all of which will support their learning. Currently, students can sign up for this using their BWA email address and can visit the Seneca website to access tasks. The instructions and reminders of how to do this is available to them on Teams. Alternatively, students can visit this site on their phones and add this to their home screen, so it acts like an app. The web address is: www.senecalearning.com

If students are having any difficulties with this, please ask them to contact their English teacher directly. Thank you for your ongoing support with this.

As we reach the end of Term 4, we would like to capture feedback from parents regarding how the current systems of remote working have worked for you and your children. Please would you complete this short survey to allow us to review ready to move into Term 5.

Parental Survey Response

Brooke Weston Academy has a well-designed curriculum that is appropriate to the students we teach and their point in education within each subject. It is therefore important that students continue to engage with the work on Teams, but along with this fantastic remote curriculum we are also sharing the Oak National Academy supported by the DfE.

The Oak National Academy has been set up to support students across the nation with their home learning and curriculums. The website, created by teachers across the nation, provides brilliant online lessons and resources for students. The BBC have also launched brilliant online lessons created by subject and educational experts to support students and parents with home learning. We hope that you find these websites a useful aid to support your child’s home learning along with, but not instead of, the work and resources set by our teachers at Brooke Weston Academy.’

https://www.thenational.academy/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/dailylessons

Dear Parent/Carer,

As we finish the Easter Bank holiday and head into the fourth week of Brooke Weston being closed, I thought it a good time to write, stay in touch and update you on a number of topics. I hope you and your families are safe and well. I am very aware that for many this is a time of anxiety and that members of the wider Brooke Weston community are dealing with illness, separation and job worries. I want you to know that we are here and want to help where we can.

Thank you

Can I start by thanking you for the kind messages of support both my staff and I have received. Each message is shared with the whole team and each time I receive messages back from staff thanking me for the message and telling me how much it meant to them. Like you, they are in lockdown at home and are missing their colleagues and students.

If you would like to thank a member of staff, then the ‘Thank a teacher’ scheme is a brilliant place to start. Please to complete the application form at https://thankateacher.co.uk/thank-a-teacher/thank-a-teacher-form/ I want to thank all of the Brooke Weston Academy staff for their hard work, care and professionalism over this time.

I also want to highlight how proud I was of the students during the closure. They reacted with their usual positivity, humour and ‘can do’ attitude. This is especially true of the Year 11 and 13 students who were, rightfully, anxious about what the closure would mean for their examinations. Please pass on a ‘remote’ well done from me.

Update on Brooke Weston Academy

Although the Academy is closed, we continue to operate a small staff to keep the school operational and more importantly to look after the children of key workers and some of our more vulnerable students. I say the Academy is closed, but that is far from the reality. In addition to the team working in school, we continue to operate our student care and safeguarding systems, teachers are creating lessons from home and support staff continue to prepare for us opening at some point. All of the staff have become overnight masters of Microsoft TEAMs and video calls!

Brooke Weston Academy support to the NHS

We have tried to answer the call from the NHS for any spare PPE we have and I am delighted to say we have made three donations of sterile gloves, eye protection, aprons, hand sanitiser and other items to Kettering General Hospital, Corby Community Hospital and a GP practice – we even managed some tea and donuts for the staff at KGH! I know all of us are so proud of our NHS staff, I recently heard them described as the ‘Spitfire pilots’ of this time and that seemed a perfect description to me. My friends in the NHS have shared with me how much the support has meant to them.

Government Free School Meal Voucher Scheme

I have seen with dismay, the food shortages in the media. I am pleased that this issue is starting to resolve itself. The Academy has worked hard to continue to provide meals to students eligible for Free School Meals and I am delighted that the Brooke Weston Trust has put a voucher scheme in place for four weeks, whilst the new government scheme was being launched. If you have any questions about the voucher scheme please email fsm@brookeweston.org

Home learning for students

As I have previously mentioned, teachers are creating resources for their classes and placing these on Microsoft TEAMs. I know, from your messages, that many of you are really appreciative of this work and it is also helping to keep students in a routine and enjoying their academic studies. Continuing their work is especially important for students in years 10 and 12 who will enter their examinations year in September and will sit exams in May 2021.

That said, I completely appreciate that we cannot replicate school at home and nor would I wish to do so. Many of us are trying to work from home, with partners also trying to work, children who need looking after and in some cases have illness to deal with. I trust parents to do what is right for their family in this time and I know that this will mean at times that students can work on their school studies and at other times this will not be possible. Speaking personally, both my wife and I are working from home with a 6-year-old and an 18 month old, both who have developed chicken pox over the last two weeks! We are grateful for the work my 6-year old’s school is sending, and trying to complete it when we can, but are focussing on keeping his maths and reading on track. We are also trying to see the positives in the current situation and are enjoying spending time together, eating together and playing in the garden together. We know that the current situation will end at some point, schools will re-open and academic life will re-start. When it does, you know that Brooke Weston Academy will do everything possible to help catch our students up on any work missed. I hope that reassures some parents about this issue.

Please remember that Brooke Weston Academy is still working the usual term and holiday dates. Teachers will not be uploading work for the two week May holiday and we are not expecting students to do any work over the holidays.

Ofqual announcement regarding Year 11 and 13 summer 2020 examinations

For parents of students in Year 11 and 13, on Friday I published two important letters regarding the announcement from Ofqual (regulator who oversees the national examination process) in relation to GCSE and A level summer examinations. This information also applies to some Year 12 students for example core maths. It is important to note that the Academy or staff cannot respond to questions or release information about students’ grades.  I know that this is a difficult time, but it is important to remember that Ofqual have made it clear that their main focus is to be fair to students and ensure they are not disadvantaged. The whole education system is working hard to make sure students are looked after and able to move onto the next step of their education. 

Change of Principal

You will know that my last day as Principal of Brooke Weston Academy is Friday 8^th May 2020. I will write again before I leave, but please be reassured that in the meantime I continue to lead the Academy and handover to my excellent replacement Mr Strydom who is the current Senior Vice Principal. 

Thank you for your ongoing support for Brooke Weston Academy over this time.

Yours sincerely

P Kirkbride

Principal

Ofqual have today (03/04/20) set out details on how GCSE and A level grades will be awarded in the summer. Please see below Ofqual GCSE and A level guidance documents for your information. Please bear with us whilst we digest the contents. We will update you further in the coming weeks as more details emerge. ​​​

Letter to students from Ofqual

Ofqual guidance

PKI/CAL

25 March 2020

Dear Parent/Carer,

I am writing to you about the Brooke Weston transport and how it will operate over the school closure period.

Due to the school closure and the Government lockdown we have taken the decision to reduce the number of buses we operate each day. We will be reducing from 9 to 2 buses.

The Academy is only open to a very small number of students. Children of key workers and vulnerable students. These student have now been identified and the changes below reflect their transport needs.

The two new routes will be:

Route one

• Stop 1 - Northampton road/before the roundabout. (Formally Green one stop 4) new pickup time 7.40am.

• Stop 2 - Rockingham road opposite Beeswing pub. (Formally Blue four stop 8) new pickup time 7.45am.

• Stop 3 - Welland Vale Road/Ennerdale road. (Formally Yellow one stop six) new pickup time 8am.

Route two.

• Will remain Green three stop one at normal time.

If you have any questions please contact the Academy on enquiries@brookeweston.org

Yours sincerely

Pete Kirkbride

Principal

Contact: Mrs Waterson

Ref: PKI/SNI

24^th March 2020

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I am writing in reference to the Brooke Weston Academy Residential trips 2020. Your child was due to attend one of the residential trips abroad this June. As you are aware, we are currently closed until further notice due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Government has also advised all schools against all foreign travel.

We have taken the advice from the government and made a decision to cancel all of our school residentials this academic year.

We will be refunding all payments that parents have made to date. Refunds will be processed via WisePay in due course.

Please ignore the final two internal payment dates. No further payments should be made to the school for the residential trips.

I would like to thank you for your patience and support throughout the current situation we find ourselves in.

If you have any queries in regards to the refunds please contact Claire Ducker, on finance@brookeweston.org

Yours sincerely ​

P Kirkbride

Principal

Dear Parents/Carers, 

The last week has been hugely challenging for the whole Brooke Weston Academy community. I am so proud of the incredible hard work of the entire staff team, the resilience of our students and the support we have received from our parents. Despite the current challenges, I know that this will pass and Brooke Weston Academy will be back open, ready to continue to provide an outstanding education to its students.  

Brooke Weston Academy closed from Monday 23rd March 2020 

As I am sure you aware, yesterday the Government announced that all schools will be closed from Monday 23rd March until further notice.  

This means that Brooke Weston Academy will be closed from this date to all students except for the following students: 

Safeguarding 

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at Brooke Weston Academy. However, during such uncertain times and due to school closures, it is important that we ensure parents/carers know who to contact if they are concerned about the welfare or safety of a child.  

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs). You can find their contact details on our school website www.brookeweston.org   

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child out of school hours please contact the MASH team on 0300 126 1000 (option 1). Alternatively, you can e-mail them on MASH@northamptonshire.gcsx.gov.uk   

If you think a child is in immediate danger or missing, you should contact the police and/or an ambulance directly by phoning 999. 

Student learning at home 

We are committed to our aim that during this period of school closure we will provide the best possible learning opportunities for our students. It is imperative that we keep the school curriculum a part of our students’ day to ensure that there is limited disruption to your child’s learning, allowing them to carry on with their education with us as normal on return.  

As a school we have put a comprehensive plan in place to ensure that a rich online curriculum can be delivered by our staff to our students for the duration of the school closure. All lessons and school resources will be made available and delivered to students via the software Microsoft Teams. Teachers and students have had training on the software. More details can be found in the Home Learning guide which is included with this letter. Today, KS3 students have been sent home with hard copies of Maths, English and Science work to complete.  

Should you or your child have any queries in regards to Microsoft Teams please view the information on our website under “Students”. Links to the Teams folder are also supplied there along with student instructions: https://www.brookeweston.org/page/?title=Our+Students&pid=16 

If you have any questions regarding the curriculum, subjects or work, please contact your teacher in the first instance via email or Teams. However they may be unavailable, so in this instance please contact: CurriculumSupport@brookeweston.org 

If you have issues with Teams or Office 365 please contact: ITStudentSupport@brookeweston.org 

Please note: IT support cannot resolve issues with hardware or Internet at home. 

School Transport 

School buses will run as normal for the week commencing Monday 23rd March. Pick up and drop off timings remain the same. Once we have a clear understanding of the number of ‘key worker’ children attending the Academy we will make decisions about this transport and communicate this to you. 

Year 11 and 13 

This is an especially difficult time for our Year 11 and 13 students. The Government has announced that exams are not taking place during the usual examination period. Whilst we are awaiting the final guidance, they have been clear that students will get the qualifications they need to progress to both further and higher education. I have met with each of these year groups to provide reassurance and as soon as we have more information, we will communicate this to you. It goes without saying that we will do the very best that we can to support our Year 11 and 13 students during this uncertain time.  

To be clear this applies to all examinations, including any due in Year 10 or Year 12. 

Students who are in school 

Students, who meet the Government criteria to be in the Academy, can attend as normal. They should be in school for 8.35am and the school day will finish at 4.05pm.  

School buses will leave at 4.15pm daily and parents who collect their children should do so from 4.05pm promptly. There is no staying on after this time and there will be no after school clubs or activities.  

Students do not have to be in school uniform, but should be dressed in smart casual that would meet our usual expectations for a non-uniform day. Students are to bring their school ID cards. 

School meals will be available as usual. 

Free School Meals 

School meals will be provided to all students who are eligible for Free School Meals.  

All Free School Meal students who are attending school because they are children of key workers or Children with Education Health Care Plans, Children who have contact with a Social Worker, e.g. ‘Children in Need’ or those on the Child Protection Register and any Children in Care (LAC) will have meals in school as normal. 

Any Free School Meal students who are not in school, but whose parents would like to collect a packed lunch from school, will be able to do so from the Academy from 11AM pm daily, Monday to Friday. 

The Government has suggested that they will be putting an alternative solution for Free School Meals in place shortly and we will communicate with you again once we know more.  

Contact moving forward 

The Brooke Weston Academy website is now a critical communication tool and I would ask that you check it daily for updates. The website is at https://www.brookeweston.org  

We are in a very fast moving situation and information can change daily. When we have updates, we will add information to the website. We will continue to use texts to keep you updated.  

Coronavirus

Please also keep updated on the Government information regarding Coronavirus on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public. 

Conclusion 

I want to finish by thanking you again for your fantastic support to both myself and the staff team over this time. I have received so many lovely comments from parents and they have made a real difference over this very busy week! I need to pay tribute to my amazing staff, both teaching and support, who came back from holiday on Monday and through herculean efforts have allowed us to stay open and be prepared to continue to educate our students at home going forward.  

Please look after yourselves and your families during this uncertain time and we are looking forward to seeing all of our students back in Brooke Weston Academy as soon as is possible.  

Yours sincerely 

Pete Kirkbride 

Principal