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1st June 2020
Today sees the start of a widening of education provision for primary schools, following the Covid-19 lockdown. As we are all aware, schools have been providing continued educational provision for vulnerable and key worker learners for some time, and during the holiday period.
It is with grateful thanks that I write to all our schools for their commitment and consideration in preparing to open more widely. All of us wish to provide children with a face-to-face education, but we are led by the guiding principle that our efforts place children’s and staff safety as our overriding priority.
School leaders, their teams and governors have completed health & safety plans and risk assessments, making difficult, but essential decisions, about how and in what capacity schools can broaden provision this week. I am pleased that we are providing wider provision across all our schools this week, and at Guildford County, from the government’s target date for secondary schools of June 15th.
This does feel like a beginning. A time of exploration. We are aware as a school community that plans will change and adjust as the circumstances do. We are prepared for this. As a trust we have local leadership as one of our founding values, and I am proud of the leadership of our schools during these weeks. The situation has been challenging. School leaders, teacher and non-class based staff have stepped up and placed children’s needs first. We will continue to do so.
Our trustee board was impressed and fully supportive of our wider reopening plans when they ratified arrangements last week at the board meeting. They wish to convey their thanks and admiration to our whole Athena community for their enduring efforts at this time, and in the weeks to come.
Best wishes, and have a good week.
Jack Mayhew, Executive Headteacher Athena Schools Trust
Today sees the start of a widening of education provision for primary schools, following the Covid-19 lockdown. As we are all aware, schools have been providing continued educational provision for vulnerable and key worker learners for some time, and during the holiday period.
It is with grateful thanks that I write to all our schools for their commitment and consideration in preparing to open more widely. All of us wish to provide children with a face-to-face education, but we are led by the guiding principle that our efforts place children’s and staff safety as our overriding priority.
School leaders, their teams and governors have completed health & safety plans and risk assessments, making difficult, but essential decisions, about how and in what capacity schools can broaden provision this week. I am pleased that we are providing wider provision across all our schools this week, and at Guildford County, from the government’s target date for secondary schools of June 15th.
This does feel like a beginning. A time of exploration. We are aware as a school community that plans will change and adjust as the circumstances do. We are prepared for this. As a trust we have local leadership as one of our founding values, and I am proud of the leadership of our schools during these weeks. The situation has been challenging. School leaders, teacher and non-class based staff have stepped up and placed children’s needs first. We will continue to do so.
Our trustee board was impressed and fully supportive of our wider reopening plans when they ratified arrangements last week at the board meeting. They wish to convey their thanks and admiration to our whole Athena community for their enduring efforts at this time, and in the weeks to come.
Best wishes, and have a good week.
Jack Mayhew, Executive Headteacher Athena Schools Trust
