Dear Parents,
It has been so very heartening to receive all the wonderful, appreciative and positive messages from you about our educational provision over the past week and a half. We have so appreciated your feedback, which has helped us enormously during what has been a challenging time as we ventured into uncharted territory. In due course we shall certainly be reviewing what has gone well, what has gone less well and what could have gone better, with regard to guided home learning, and refining our provision as appropriate. In the meantime, it suffices for me to thank you and even more the girls for your and their co-operation and display of indomitable spirit!
Normally at this time, I would be sending a fairly detailed digest of the girl’s achievements this term as part of my end-of-term letter. I hope you will forgive my not doing so today, in the light of the rush of business to which I have had to attend; instead I shall write this end-of-term missive during the Easter holiday and send it to you by the beginning of next term. Pray be assured that I shall also keep you up to date with developments regarding the reopening of the school premises, which is subject to government guidance.
I know much remains uncertain with regard to Her Majesty’s Government’s measures to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak, not least a raft of educational matters relating to your daughters. Over time, we shall have much more guidance on how GCSE and A Level grades will be awarded, and we shall also be making decisions about the summer assessments we usually hold for pupils in the other senior-school year groups. But we cannot make hasty decisions; rather, I hope you will bear with us as we survey the options. In the meantime, please do reassure your daughters that we shall continue to operate with their best interests in mind.
As we begin the Easter holiday, Mrs Cross has sent out a light-hearted missive (‘Easter Activity Tips’) with a range of suggestions and thoughts for our pupils to help them keep their spirits up and remain sane during the lock-down period. Mr Weatherhead has also written to U5 parents about the arrangements for next term, as they develop shape. We shall also do this shortly for the Upper Sixth. Please note that we are not expecting U5 and U6 students to be revising for the examinations they are no longer sitting but merely to be completing any tasks set by their teachers, whilst ensuring that they have some quality time off for their own well being; and that whilst the normal study leave will no longer be applicable we shall of course respect parents’ and students’ plans for the time this was originally scheduled, where these have been made. Ms Feehan, Head of English, has circulated excellent suggestions for Easter reading by SchoolPost (‘The Joy of Reading’) — the period of lock-down is a great opportunity for pupils to refresh their spirits through such enterprise. You will have received already next term’s Almanacs, and Prep School parents will have received Mr Mylne’s digest of the Prep Lent Term.
Our provision for key workers’ children finishes today and will resume at the beginning of the Summer Term, on Wednesday 15 April. If you are a key worker, with no-one at home to keep your daughter safe, then please contact Ms Alison Bullock, our Director of Finance and Operations, at a.bullock@schs.gdst.net, to book a place or to ask any question you may have about this provision.
I have been in receipt of literally hundreds of emails a day, and it is possible that I may have missed some messages. If you have sent me a message and have not received a reply after a couple of days, please accept my apology; do send your email again, as it is likely that I may have missed it.
The last few days have been enormously busy for the staff of SCHS/SCPS, and I have indicated to all staff that they must have a break over the Easter holiday for their own well-being. Members of the Senior Leadership Team will periodically be checking their emails for urgent messages, including myself, should you need to be in touch. I realise how stressful the present circumstances are for so many members of our school community – I only hope that you, whatever your situation at this time, have some much-needed respite and relief in the next few days and weeks, and that any anxiety you or the girls have can be managed as effectively as possible.
It remains for me to wish you a healthy and safe Easter, and to thank you again for your ongoing support.
With very best wishes, I remain,
Yours sincerely,
Head Master
Dr Millan Sachania
Streatham & Clapham High School
London SW16 1AW
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