Firstly, a Happy New Year to all those connected with our school community. Staff return to school today, Tuesday 4 January 2022 and all students return tomorrow, Wednesday 5 January 2022.

In line with current government guidance all students will undertake an 0n-site Lateral Flow Test on their return to school on Wednesday morning and will now be required to wear masks whenever inside the building, including in lessons. We have written to parents and carers today outlining all the expectations around this return to school.

We wish all our Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students taking external January examinations in the weeks ahead. We know how hard they have worked in preparation for these and are confident that they will demonstrate this in these examinations.

Finally, if you missed our end of term newsletter, Acclaim, please do read a copy in the latest news section of our website. With thanks to Erica Walkling and Brooke Lorenzo in Year 11 for their hard work in putting together this bumper edition. It was wonderful to see just how much has been going on around the school across the Autumn Term. We hope that despite the pressure that there term ahead might bring, that we can continue to keep this rich diet within the classroom and beyond.

Sadly, based on the current COVID challenges we have taken the sad decision to cancel our Year 14 Certificates Evening scheduled for Wednesday 5 January. We lovely seeing students return to school for this evening but do not feel that bringing this many people, not currently attending the school, together might not be wise at this time. Certificates will be left with reception should students wish to collect these during the school day over the coming week.

I wish all our readers a happy and healthy 2022.