Dear parent(s)/carer(s)

Re: Year 7 Start date Change for September

I am writing to let you know of a very important date change to school and that the start of the Autumn Term is being brought forward by us for Year 7 only to Thursday 27^th August ’20.

This is very unusual move by the school to alter its published opening arrangements but is being made in some very unusual circumstances and with the very best interests of your children driving that decision. I hope that you will appreciate our predicament and support this move accordingly. We really want to give them dedicated time in the building as a single year group so that they are confident about their start and will flourish.

A summary of the changed dates can be seen in the table below:

Former, published dates		New, revised dates
Thursday 27th Aug.		Thursday 27th Aug.	Year 7 Only
Friday 28th Aug.		Friday 28th Aug.	Year 7 Only
Monday 31st Aug.	Bank Holiday	Monday 31st Aug.	Bank Holiday
Tuesday 1st Sept.	Training Day	Tuesday 1st Sept.	Training Day
Wednesday 2nd Sept.	Year 7 Only	Wednesday 2nd Sept.	Year 7 and 11 only
Thursday 3rd Sept.	All Year groups	Thursday 3rd Sept.	All Year groups
Friday 4th Sept.	All Year groups	Friday 4th Sept.	All Year groups

Why are we doing this?

We are taking this decision to make up for some lost transition time. We pride ourselves on this process normally and we do not feel that we have had sufficient time to ensure they can get the care we think they deserve. This addresses and resolves that. We are putting them first and a number of staff are giving up holidays to support them in this key transition process.

What does my child need to bring?

Your child will need to be in full school uniform. They should also bring:

• Dinner money or packed lunch for the day
• Their stationery/equipment
• Their PE kit
• Any induction material from the ‘About Me’ materials that were shared and online to help them introduce themselves to their tutor group
• A face mask if they are going on public transport

Why are they having these two days earlier?

We have always offered two days of the transition to year 6 students in the summer term, which is regrettably not possible this year. These two days planned now for August will give your child an introduction to the school’s routines, the opportunity to experience some lessons in a variety of subjects and a chance to tour the building, learn lunch arrangements, and meet all key staff and their tutors. They will also have time to be with their form group and meet people who will become their friends for many years to come.

Any other changes?

It is also important that you are aware that, due to other changes in light of the government’s COVID-19 arrangements for school openings, that your child will be following a revised school day in September.

We have normally operated from 8.25am until 3pm. From September, this is different for different year groups so that year groups are staggered on entry to the school. Year 7 are now starting at 8.50am and will finish every day at 3.30pm (3pm on Thursdays).

I will write to other year groups about their start and end times but if you have siblings elsewhere in the school you need to be aware that there are now different start and end times for different year groups through this current period in time before we are able to revert to our normal timetabled start and finish times. I want to assure you that your child will still receive a full, broad curriculum; the times of the day have changed but our high-quality curriculum offer remains the same.

Remember that you can always keep up to date with us on Twitter using @Blue_Wollaton.

Our staff are really excited to be welcoming more young people into our school and we look forward to meeting your child at 8.50am on Thursday 27^th August ’20.  They should enter the school via the student entrance on Harrow Road (back gate) and staff will be there to greet them and show them where to go.

Yours faithfully

Mr S Anderson,
Executive Principal
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy