Headteacher's Newsletter
January 2022
Welcome Back
Dear Families,
Happy New Year and welcome back to the start of the Spring Term. As I noted in my letter to you this week I seem to start every term with a "as you will have seen on the news" statement. We are, once again, in an ever changing environment and as with all schools across the country doing our best to navigate the choppy waters of covid restrictions, student and staff absences, while still doing our best to maintain a high standard of education and experience for our students.
This week we have seen a significant number of students coming into school to have a lateral flow test. I firstly want to thank once again our small number of volunteers from our families who have continued to step up and come into school to help us test the students; we genuinely would not be able to do so without them. I also want to commend our students who have behaved impeccably while waiting for their tests despite the process being slower than usual because of covid related absences. Unlike other testing periods we have seen a number of positive tests this time; it has therefore been an important process in helping limit the spread of the virus.
This is going to be a turbulent term and I want to thank you all in advance for your understanding and support. As you know, on the first day of term we had 22 members of staff absent and I can only assume for the time being that this will continue to be an issue. We are working relentlessly to do what we can to limit the impact on your children's learning, for example live streaming lessons from home if staff are not unwell but having to isolate, employing a range of supply teachers in case of absence so we have increased staffing capacity and using the hall where required for combining groups so that they can be taught by a specialist with additional staff support. I will do all I can to keep our students in school receiving face to face teaching, although as other schools have already found, we may be required to teach remotely as an absolute last resort. I can assure you that your children's education and welfare is our number one priority.
This term will also be an important period of time particularly for our Year 11 and 13 students. At the start of February the examination boards are due to release the 'modifications' for exams which shows how the students will be assessed this year and how they will adapt the exams to take into account the missed learning due to covid, for example explaining which topics will be assessed or providing mathematical equations to students. As a result we have moved our second set of PPE exams to a week later so that we can provide students with an experience as closely related to their final exams as possible. Students in these year groups should be starting to prepare for their exams now despite not yet having the final modifications; leaving preparation until February would certainly impact negatively on results.
As always there is a lot of important information in this newsletter and I hope you find it useful. I wanted to thank you once again for all your support this academic year and particularly thank those parents who wrote to me before the break thanking the staff for their work. This really does make a difference to our staff.
Yours sincerely
Daniel Leonard
Headteacher
Final Few Covid Messages
I advised students that they should be adhering to the above to support each other, but also selfishly, the more we can limit the spread of covid the more time students spend in school and the more staff are available to fulfil their responsibilities to our students.
On this note, I would like to request that for the time being, visitors do not attend the school unless it is an emergency or they have been invited in for a meeting. This includes not dropping off kit or equipment a student has forgotten. I have also asked staff to meet parents virtually as part of our minimising transmission procedures. Thank you again for the part you all play in all of these measures.
A few additional bits of information based on Government Guidance
1. Masks to be worn "in classrooms where pupils in Year 7 and above are educated"
The updated advice on face coverings, applicable to all classrooms and teaching spaces for Year 7 students and above, will be in place until 26th January, when Plan B regulations are currently scheduled to expire, at which point the guidance will be reviewed.
2. Measures to keep as many pupils in school as possible recommended
The Education Secretary has conceded that where staff absences are substantial, avoiding remote learning would be 'impossible.' However, he stated that as many pupils should receive face-to-face teaching as possible. Headteachers have been told to consider combining class groups to ensure pupils remain in school during periods of high teacher absence due to Covid.
3. Any planned examinations will go ahead in January
The Government says all planned January examinations should go ahead, and that schools should contact the awarding organisation for any adaptations to the processes deemed necessary.
4. Isolation rules for close contacts re-iterated
As before, those who are fully vaccinated, or pupils and young people aged between 5 and 18 and a half, who have been identified as a close contact of someone with Covid, should take a lateral flow test every day for seven days and, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time, they should continue to attend their setting as normal.
5.The requirement for confirmatory PCR tests is to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results.
From Tuesday 11 January, people who receive positive lateral flow results and are asymptomatic will be required to self-isolate immediately but won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test. This is a temporary measure while covid rates remain high across the UK. However, anyone who develops one of the three main covid symptoms should still take a PCR test. They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test - these rules have not changed.
6.Reduction in Isolation Period
In line with the reduced self-isolation approach announced on the 22nd December, anyone who tests positive will be able to leave self-isolation 7 days after the date of their initial positive test if they receive two negative lateral flow results, 24 hours apart, on days 6 and 7. Children can return to school on day 7 after their two negative lateral flow tests.(see image below)
Introduction to our New Chair of Governors
Adrian is an ex-pupil and both his sons were taught at West Hatch. He first became involved with the school when he joined the PTA and then as a Governor, for over 25 years. He is a retired Chartered Accountant, having held senior positions in the Metropolitan Police, the BBC and the University of East London. He is a Chelsea Football Club season ticket holder, a collector of Marvel and DC comics and memorabilia and enjoys going out for walks with his dog, Alfie.
On his appointment as Chair, he said "It is a pleasure and honour to have been elected to Chair the Governing Body and the length of my association with West Hatch is testimony to the high esteem I have for the school. I wish to thank my predecessor, John Haley, for his leadership and guidance over so many years."
Vapes
Update on the Uniform Consultation
Detention Reminder
On occasion a small number of students do not attend detentions. The following are the procedures in place should this occur once or over time;
1.Student misses a detention:
They are placed in isolation the following day from P4 until 4pm. They will also have the original detention reset.2. Student misses another detention . They are placed in isolation the following day from P4 until 4pm. They are also given a 90 minute Headteacher detention, which take place on a Wednesday. Failure to attend the Headteacher's detention results in a one day external exclusion.
3.Student misses another detention. They will be internally excluded the next day.
4. Student misses yet another detention. They will be internally excluded for two days. This will increase by a day each time a detention is missed.
Please note that parents will be called for a meeting at point four above and a student who continues to miss detentions after this meeting will be placed in front of the Governors Disciplinary Panel.
I would like to remind families that detention lists are placed outside students services each day and parents are messaged when detentions are set; there is therefore no excuse for a student to miss their detention.
Contacting Staff
At West Hatch, staff wellbeing is as important as our students’ and we therefore have a policy that emails are not sent direct to members of staff between the hours of 7pm and 7am Monday to Friday, or at all during the weekend or the school holidays.
If you do find yourself having to email outside of these hours then please email admin@westhatch.net and then this will be forwarded onto the relevant member of staff. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Behaviour of Parents
STEM Club - Well Done to our Year 10 Students
Bake Off
The theme for their baked entries was ‘Showstopper’ with the best three from each House awarded gold, silver and bronze winners. The judging panel then went on to decide an ultimate winner for the school's ‘Star Baker’ which was the 'North Pole cake', shown below.
Each gold, silver, bronze and star baker will meet with me this term for their ‘Paul Hollywood’ hand shake, to be congratulated and receive their prizes. Well done to everyone who took part.
Poppy Appeal
Thank you to families who helped donate money towards the Poppy Appeal. The school raised a grand total of £706.79. This is a significant improvement on the amount we raised last year, which was approximately £200. I would also like to thank Mrs Thomas and Mrs Muscatt for their support with this matter.
Christmas Jumper Day
Important Dates for the Diary
Parent Events
Thursday 20th January - Year 11 Parents Evening (online appointments)Thursday 3rd February - Year 13 Parents Evening (online appointments)
Thursday 3rd March - Year 8 Parents Evening (online appointments)
Thursday 10th March - Year 9 Parents Evening (online appointments)
Thursday 17th March - Year 12 Parents Evening (online appointments)
School Closures
February Half Term - Monday 14th February -Friday 18th February 2022
Wednesday 9th March 2022 - Inset Day no students in school - (changed from original date of 4th March)
Some Very Sad News
During the Christmas holidays I was informed that one of our recent ex-students had been involved in a fatal collision. Saleem Ahmed, who was 20 and only left us a few years ago was involved in the collision on the 17th December. Our thoughts and love are with Saleem's family at this difficult time. A sad loss of such a lovely young man with a bright future ahead of him.
Our Students' Achievements
Sophia Wallman and Erin Sands in Yr.8
Sophia and Erin both took part in the AJEX (association of Jewish ex-servicemen and women) Remembrance Day Parade at the Cenotaph. Sophia also played the clarinet in the band on the day. What a proud moment for both girls.
Georgia Lau - Yr.9
Well done to Georgia who achieved a merit in her latest Grade four ballet exam, following a full term of ballet lessons held on zoom.
Aaron Docius - Yr. 7
In November Aaron competed in the English Open Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship in the Grey Belt category and won the bronze medal. He proudly represented his club Arlans Siqueira BJJ. Well done Aaron.
Adam Hoque - Yr.7
Adam is a member of the 'World Tang Soo Do' martial arts group. He competed in the national competition and achieved first and second place in two of the three challenges he competed in. Well done Adam, keep up the training.
Martina Dainauskaite - Yr.8
Aras Majauskis - Yr.7
Aras is enjoying racing in his new go kart and has managed to place 7th and 8th out of 34 competitors in his last couple of races. He is looking forward to the British Karting Championships this year. Keep up the great work Aras.