Message from Head Teacher: Preparing for in-school and remote learning from 15th March

Preparing for in-school and remote learning from 15th March

Following the Scottish Government announcement and subsequent   Message from Elaine Cook Depute Chief Executive we are now working through plans to give all pupils some in-school time from Monday 15th March up until the Easter holidays. 

I will get more specific information out to you by the middle of next week. There is also a Parent Council meeting next week where I will talk through the rationale for our chosen model in more detail. 

Please understand this is extremely complex and we will likely need to make some compromises to our current remote learning provision to ensure we fulfil national recommendations that have been set out here for this school return: Guidance for in-school learning and remote learning (opens new window)

This in-school return is complex for a number of reasons, including, the need to prioritise Senior Phase pupils over the week, ensure S1-S3 pupils have some time in school each week, maintain key worker provision, ensure Covid mitigations including 2m social distancing is in place, amongst other requirements. 2m social distancing significantly reduces school capacity and classrooms will now only accommodate approximately 10-12 pupils.  More teachers are therefore required in classrooms meaning our remote learning offer will subsequently need to change. 

What I can tell you now is that pupils in S1-S3 will be back in school on a particular day by year group rather than House group each week. Senior Phase pupils (S4-S6) will be in school for at least 2 days per week. 

I thank you for your support and patience as we finalise our plans and I will be in touch as soon as I can next week with more details.

Supporting our pupils when they return

We are looking forward to welcoming pupils back into school for some time from Monday 15th March. We also recognise that there will be anxieties and concerns about returning to school. We are keen to help and support where possible. Please click here Supporting pupils return to school (opens new window) if you would like a member of our support team to be in touch next week to listen to any concerns and arrange any possible supports before this return.

Grant Abbot

Head Teacher