COVID Vaccination Programme Y9-Y11

28th September 2021Mrs L Rayne

On Tuesday 14 September the Government announced that children aged 12-15 will be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. 

This is now being rolled out in schools across Northumberland. It is anticipated that this will run alongside the flu vaccination programme which is also taking place within our school. Public Health England advises that there are no safety concerns and that COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines, including the nasal flu vaccine. It is standard practice for different vaccines to be given at the same time as each other.  This happens frequently with routine vaccinations that are given to children in the UK and other countries.

Please note that the School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS) team will be the primary provider of the vaccination programme and will be legally responsible for the delivery of the vaccine with the school being requested to provide the venue. All questions regarding the vaccine should be directed to them.

The letter issued to all Parents and Carers can be read in full here

Reintroduction of face coverings

24th September 2021Mrs L Rayne

Unfortunately, following my letter to you last week Covid cases continue to be high and we currently have 56 positive cases within the school community. 

We remain in regular contact with PHE who are monitoring our situation and they have advised us that given that all other prevention measures are already in place within the school and cases continue to rise, we now need to reintroduce face coverings within school. This will be for an initial period of two weeks when it will be reviewed in conjunction with PHE.

In response to this guidance we will therefore introduce the following school expectations for staff and students from Monday 27 September 2021:

  • Staff and students are asked to wear masks at all times inside the building where social distancing is not possible
  • This includes in classrooms, when moving between classrooms on corridors and in halls and communal areas at break and when queuing for food inside at dinner time
  • Staff and students will be expected to use their own masks. The schools will retain a small stock of masks for those times when a mask is lost, damaged or forgotten
  • We are aware that there are some students who cannot wear masks for medical reasons and we will continue to be sensitive to this situation

The letter to all parents/carers can be read in full here

Year 11 Science Assessments

23rd September 2021Mrs L Rayne

In the week beginning 6 October 2021, all Year 11 students will be sitting GCSE standard assessments in Biology, Chemistry and Physics based on the topics covered to date. 

These progress tests will enable the Science department to assess understanding and will allow students to identify areas of weakness that they need to address. We would therefore strongly encourage all students to revise thoroughly for these progress tests, as along with performance throughout the year, these results will contribute toward predicted grades and help to confirm pathways and tiers of entry.

The letter to parents/carers can be read in full here

COVID Update – September 2021

17th September 2021Mrs L Rayne

Unfortunately we currently have had 27 positive cases within the school community. We remain in contact with PHE who are monitoring our situation. The school remains open and your child should continue to attend as usual if they remain well.

Symptomatic Testing

If your child develops symptoms at any time they must book a PCR test via www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. If your child tests positive on a PCR test at any time then please report immediately to school by emailing [email protected].

To read the letter issued to all parents/carers, can be read in full here

GNR Junior 4K Success

15th September 2021Mr S Connor

Congratulations to all of those students who took part in the Great North Run Junior 4K race 2021. Pride of place belongs to U17 Will DeVere-Owen (Year 11), who won the event outright and was first home in his age group, posting a best time of 12m26s.

Morpeth Harriers Club colleague Ryan Davies (Year 11) just missed out on a podium place himself when he finished fourth in 12m41s. Not far behind him was Bertie Marr (Year 11), who finished sixth in 12m49s, just five seconds ahead of another Morpeth Harrier Liam Roche (Year 11) in seventh place.

Further down the field in fifteenth place was Morpeth U15 Oliver Calvert (Year 9), who was fourth in his age group, posting a time of 14m07s.

Read the full Morpeth Herald article here.

Return to school: Letter

1st September 2021Mr S Connor

Please see this letter which has been sent to all parents and carers today outlining details for the return to school in September 2021. This letter includes important details around Covid 19 measures, symptomatic testing, asymptomatic testing, curriculum and attendance.

As a result of the September testing requirements students return to school will be delayed by one day as follows:

  • Friday 3 September and Monday 6 September – On site testing of all consenting students
  • Tuesday 7 September – Staff Training Day
  • Wednesday 8 September – Year 9 and 12 start school at 9.00am
  • Thursday 9 September – Year 10, 11 and 13 return to school at 9.00am