On his 17th birthday former student James McConnell, signed a 3 year professional contract with Liverpool Football Club. As a school we couldn’t be prouder of his journey. Further information can be found here. Good luck to James.
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
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
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.
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
The School Aged Immunisation Team are offering your child the opportunity to receive their Nasal Flu immunisation in school on Wednesday 3 November 2021 as part of the childhood immunisation programme.
Further information regarding the immunisation programme can be found by following this link.
The letter, issued to parents/carers of students in years 9-11 can be read in full here
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.
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
The King Edward VI School students have once again achieved excellent results today.
Headteacher, Clare Savage commented:
“Congratulations to our Year 11 students, for their hard work over the last three years at King Edward’s and particularly for how well they have handled the many challenges they have faced over the last 18 months.
We know it has not been easy for them but they have done fantastically well to get through such a difficult period of uncertainty. As a school community we are proud of their efforts and achievements and look forward to welcoming the majority of our students back into our 6th Form (We still have space for September see our website for details). We wish all our students all the very best in their future endeavours and look forward to hearing of their future successes.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all staff and parents on behalf of all our students for all the support they have given them, particularly over the last few months.”
Adele Tansey, Year 11 Lead stated
I am very pleased to congratulate our Year 11 students on their excellent GCSE results. Our students have worked incredibly hard over the last two years and thoroughly deserve the results that they have been awarded, which are the conclusion to many 100’s of hours of face to face teaching, online learning and classroom assessment. I am particularly pleased that a significant number of our students have achieved top grades, notably Ruby Holton and Joe Lennox who both excelled and gained 9’s in all their subjects.
We look forward to seeing many of our students return to King Edward’s in September and to hearing how others have been successful in gaining places on various college courses and apprenticeships. I want them to know how proud we are of them and to wish them the very best for the next step in their educational journey.
Ruby Holton & Joe Lennox, Year 11, receiving their outstanding GCSE results
Year 11 students from The King Edward VI School on GCSE results day 2021
The King Edward VI School A Level students have once again, achieved excellent results today. The school is delighted that over three-quarters of students are now moving into higher education at university including many Russell Group institutions. Many others have secured quality apprenticeships and employment during this economically challenging time.
Students have places in a broad range of courses and disciplines from traditional Engineering and medicine courses, to ethical hacking, interior design and Film and TV Production. Students moving into employment and apprenticeships will be working in construction, healthcare, retail, engineering and the Armed Forces to name a few.
Headteacher, Clare Savage commented:
This year in particular we are also celebrating the resilience and determination of our students in these unprecedented times. They have faced challenges never before experienced, and have had to deal with really difficult conditions of study. As a school community we are proud of their efforts and achievements. I also want to extend my thanks to all of the teachers, school staff, and parents who have supported our students along the way. Congratulations to all King Edward’s Leavers 2021. We wish all of our students every success in their future endeavours. ”
This year centres were asked to make their assessment, using a broad range of evidence from across their full programme of study.
As Head of Sixth Form Leanne Johnston explained:
“This is a process that has never been attempted before and was forced by circumstances which nobody could possibly have foreseen. Staff have worked diligently to provide grades for students. Although these grades are awarded using a different method they fully reflect the hard work of our students throughout their time at King Edward’s.”
