Headteacher Tom Kelly was very keen to keep the local school community at the heart of everything during the latest closure. “Our families have been amazing throughout this time,” he explains. “Their resilience and commitment make it even more important for us to support them however we can.”

Following the previous closure, the school undertook a review of the remote-learning provision and has swiftly applied the lessons learned. Students have been able to access a varied diet of on-screen and off-screen learning. Deputy Headteacher Matt Gill states: “We wanted to ensure that our students would be as engaged as much as possible with their learning at home. We are delivering a variety of learning methods including live lessons, recorded presentations, video tutorials, project work and other activities…the staff have been amazing.”

The Northern Echo:

Communication with families has been at the centre of much of the school’s work during the closure: virtual weekly parent check-ins – where parents can share questions or concerns with the leadership team; weekly virtual assemblies for students; daily check-ins to support with learning and targeted support from Teaching Assistants to ensure that students with additional learning needs continue to thrive. “We set our stall out from the first day of closure to maintain really high levels of communication with our community”, adds Mr Kelly. “It is such a difficult time for families, and we want to show them that we are in this together”.

The school have worked hard to foster a sense of togetherness with the community. Louise Woodward, Drama teacher, has worked with colleagues to launch a Wellbeing project for the community, encouraging students and parents to participate in creative and fun activities that bring them together and help to keep them positive. This and other projects shared on the school’s Facebook page include a logo-design competition for the Friarage hospital, the Be Kind: Pass It On challenge and The Century Challenge, in honour of Captain Tom Moore. Mrs Woodward explains “We have done a lot of work with the community this year, including the Shoebox Appeal, the Children’s Cancer Fund and the Hambleton FoodShare – it’s a vital part of our role as a local high school”.

The Northern Echo:

The school have also provided for key worker children and vulnerable students throughout the closure period. Staff have been working on a rota, juggling their remote learning provision with the supervision of these students. Now school is preparing for the return of all students. “We can’t wait to get them all back in,” says Mr Kelly. “We are so proud to serve this community and their families”.