Letter to Parents - 28 Mar 22
Dear Parent/Carer,
Incredibly it has been just over two years since the UK entered lockdown as the pandemic landed – and I am mindful that for many of us, these years have been extremely complicated. However, I am very proud of our young people here at Kingsway as they have worked hard to find themselves a route forward after such disruption.
This term we have seen even more of our usual routines return, with Y9 options running as normal, assemblies back – and more and more trips and visits happening with every passing week. There will be even more “returns to normal” in the coming term too, as Y11 will sit GCSEs, and all other year groups will sit full and formal end-of-year exams. For Y7, 8 and 9, their summer exams will capture their learning throughout this year determine their sets for next; while Y10 summer exams will start to form the planning for their final year with us, including sets, intervention plans and content.
Our partnership with the Manchester United Foundation has meant we have been able to open our site through evenings and weekends for local lettings arrangements – and that we have been able to send ever more students on the various interventions, competitions, match-day events and community activities supported by the MUF team. We are now planning for a Summer Carnival here on site to help launch this new venture and celebrate our community as a whole with all our sporting, business and family partners.
There are still challenges for us – as you know, I wrote recently to warn you of the risk of young people getting addicted to vaping via the various e-cigarette/vape pen models available at the moment. All of these items should not be sold or used by those under 18, but I want to just add to this that there are particular models – the square ones in particular – that are often illegal for anyone because of the amount of nicotine they contain. They are sold direct to young people in some shops, without any proof of age being required – and they are sold online, often via snapchat. These models are often deliberately targeted at young people, and I worry hugely that, once addicted, young people do find it very hard to come away from them.
As you know we are coming to the end of the term. Advance notice that we will close to students on Friday 8th April as below:
Y7, Y8 and Y9 – Finish at 12.10pm
Y10 – Finish at 1.10pm
Y11 – Finish at 2.40pm
After the Easter break, the students will be able to come to school in the summer polo shirt in place of their shirt and tie if they choose to (they must still have their blazer) – and, as always, we will be making sure that Y11 have the best possible preparation for their exams, so revision sessions and after-school study options will be ever more important. We are also launching our partnership with Conexus Tuition and many of you are signed up for this offer too – we will let you know as and when more places become available.
For now, as always – look after yourselves and each other,
With best wishes
Mrs J Langley
Headteacher
