St Edmund's Catholic School

Half-Term: 26th - 30th October 2020 (school closed)

School will re-open on Monday 2nd November for all students (Week A)

If you are looking to hand in any Admission Forms/Supplementary Forms please do so when the school re-opens on the 2nd November as the school is currently closed for half-term.

Year 7 Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4)

Due to the cancellation of Key Stage 2 tests in Primary Schools, we have decided to carry out another form of assessment. This Assessment comprises of 3 short tests (30 minutes each) and will take place over the course of 3 weeks. The results will be used internally to form a baseline and to support us with target settings.

These assessments are online and your child will need to ensure they have their own headphones and a reading book with them on the specified dates. Click here to view the key dates when these tests are being carried out

Headteacher's Address

It has been wonderful that we have been able to have all of our children return to a ‘near normal St Edmund’s.’ Students and staff have adapted well upon returning with a brand new building, new one way systems and a host of Covid related changes; there was much to take in, especially considering the majority of students have not been in school since March.

Students have been able to resume all of their normal subjects with high levels of engagement and lots of

practical activities to support learning. They are working really hard, with increased time in lessons and a new adapted curriculum to ensure all appropriate skills and knowledge are covered. Staff have also had to be flexible and have industriously risen to the challenges of new structures and routines. For example: the continued cleaning between groups and having to cover 3 hours of breaks/lunches each day represents a huge daily operation.

This requires a large amount of conformity and support from students. Even moving around the school must be as controlled as possible. We have had to utilise a zero tolerance approach when students have deliberately broken the rules they have been given. This has unfortunately lead to a number of exclusions and individuals having to work from home. Although school exclusion figures have risen they are still much lower than local/national figures, which is a great reflection upon the students themselves. Despite these exceptional circumstances we continue with our goals of providing our children with a safe, stimulating and happy learning environment surrounded by faith. This is clearly visible within the students when watching them play/socialise at break and their actual work in class during my daily classroom visits. This is also reflected in the high levels of attendance achieved this half term. As always, St Edmund’s is considerably above both local and national levels. Thank you parents/carers for your continued support.

As you will be aware; like other schools, we have not been immune to Covid. We have had 2 students/staff test positive, lots of individuals isolating, family members testing positive and a massive number of negative test results where individuals have flu/temperatures/colds/other illnesses. Fortunately we have only required one year group to isolate and were able to continue learning live and online. Positively, all have made a full recovery no matter what the illness. Looking ahead to next half term we can expect the same pattern and the need to be adaptable. We will continue to review events and look at ways in which we can ensure that our children do not miss out. One example being the trial of a virtual parents evening for Year 11 with new software we have purchased.

Where there are confirmed Covid cases we will always communicate with individuals identified as at risk (because of contact) and inform them of the requirement to self-isolate. Whilst we are always able to deliver live learning when students are at home, our preference will always be to have students in school and have normal class lessons/experiences.

Seeing Year 7 participate in their first Retreat (although in school) has been truly uplifting. Their prayers, participation, meditation and excitement of a relationship with God is wonderous to witness. They are sights of hope and love to fill the world and shine bright as members of the St Edmund’s family. I have also seen some amazing pieces of homework this half term which will contribute to the attainment progress and outcomes achieved by individuals. Many students have already received certificates/badges which we are all very proud of. Our plans are already underway for celebration assemblies and further public recognition of individuals.

Finally, thank you to those parents who have downloaded the MyEd app. This will be the main vehicle, along with the school website, to communicate quickly with parents/carers. This is particularly important at the moment when circumstances can change very rapidly. One such sudden change may be the compulsory requirement for students and staff to wear face masks in all corridors and indoor spaces. This is currently optional, however, should Portsmouth be moved up a ’Covid tier’ by the Government then this would be required at short notice and will be a non-negotiable part of attending school. I would recommend that this becomes part of general equipment that students bring.

Over the half term we will consistently clean and maintain the school site. Should any families be impacted by Covid or experience other similar problems please email: covid@saintedmunds.org.uk

I wish you all a restful half term and look forward to students returning on Monday 2nd November.

God bless,

Mr S Graham

Teams / Office 365 Password Reset

If you have been asked to 'self isolate', and require a password reset for Teams / Office 365 please ask your parent or guardian to email your Full Username & Tutor Group to: school@saintedmunds.org.uk

Regrettably, we cannot accept password change requests by phone for security reasons or if you are not self isolating.

Important notice to Parents/Carers

In light of Covid-19, we kindly ask that parents/carers visiting the school must wear a mask. No parents/carers should be on the school site unless they have made a prior appointment or are collecting uniform as arranged in advance. This is in line with guidelines to protect all children and staff and ensure the safe openings of the school. Anyone visiting the school site not wearing a mask or without a prior appointment will be asked to leave. Due to restrictions with Covid-19 we would kindly ask that no bulky items or forgotten PE kit is handed into school as we have very limited capacity to get this to the students and cannot guarantee that these items will be delivered. Where possible any forgotten lunch money should be paid onto the student’s parent pay account.

Update re Year 11s

Any Year 11 student who needs to attend a College open evening in person or virtually that starts before you have a chance to get home after Period 6 MUST bring a signed note in their planners from their parents to say they are excused from Period 6 for that day. This will mean the Year 11 student will be allowed to leave at 3.10pm that day. The student must show the note to tutors in the morning who will sign their planners to say they have seen it. If this is not done we will not be able to let the student leave the school site and they must attend Period 6.

My Ed School Phone App - Our New Communication Tool for Parents/Carers

Click here to download our New School Phone App! Messaging, News, Information and Reports all in one place!

All communication will now only be via the 'My Ed' App so if you have not signed up yet, then you may miss out on vital communication from the school. For further information & technical help please see our dedicated 'My Ed' Information Page.