Article Date: 22 November 2020
Article Date: 22 November 2020
22 November 2020
Dear Parents/Carers
We have been advised by Public Health England that there have been three further confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving students in Year 7, Year 9 and Year 11 within the school. We will be in contact with students individually who need to self-isolate in accordance with the guidance.
Following discussions with Public Health England and Essex County Council, we have taken the decision to temporarily close Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form from Monday 23 November 2020 and reopen on Wednesday 2 December 2020. Currently a high number of staff are self-isolating, and therefore we are unable to guarantee the safety of all students. By closing over this period we can create an 11 day firebreak, including weekends and planned INSET days, to reduce possible transmission as well as undertake a deep cleaning of the school.
We will continue to deliver the normal timetable remotely with all lessons being delivered via Microsoft Teams for students in Years 7 - 13, using a combination of live lessons and assigned tasks. All lessons will start at the usual time but will only last 45 minutes to allow students and staff to have a break away from the screen. There will be scheduled live tutor times and year group assemblies next week for students in Years 7 – 11, the approach is different in Sixth Form. Students will be contacted separately with the specific year group details about tutor time and assembly. Any questions about the remote learning, please contact the individual class teachers for specific issues or the tutors with more general concerns. If you have any technical problems accessing the lessons, please email ITsupport@notleyhigh.com
We have a limited capacity to support the children of key workers and also vulnerable learners in school. Students will be able to access the remote lessons in an IT room within their year group bubbles. As we only have a limited capacity and we will need to ensure that there is adequate supervision, please could you email enquiries@notleyhigh.com with student name, tutor group and reasons for requesting a place at school. We will prioritise the younger students if we are unable to accommodate all requests.
We would like to thank you all for your support and understanding at this difficult time.
Yours faithfully
Mr R James, Executive Headteacher/CEO NEMAT
Dr C Cusick, Head of School
