Dear Parents/Carers 
 
We are currently considering the implications of the new stricter measures announced yesterday by the Prime Minister but wanted to write to inform you of the current DfE guidance regarding Year 11 examinations. Latest information from both OfQual and the examination boards indicate that a range of information will be considered and I would like to reassure our young people that we are committed to making sure they are not disadvantaged in any way. 

The link to the government’s recent statement on how grades will be awarded can be found below, however I feel it might be useful to summarise the key points. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-details-on-exams-and-grades-announced 

• Teachers will be asked to make a judgement on the grade they feel learners would have achieved if they had sat the examinations and completed the course as normal. This judgement will be based on a wide range of evidence not just on recent mock examinations and can include evidence from classwork, homework and in class tests. This may mean that the grade a teacher predicted on previous reports may differ from the final grade they suggest should be awarded. Teachers will do everything to ensure learners are awarded the grades they were on track to achieve.
• Examination Boards hope to inform learners of the grades they have been awarded earlier than normal at the end of July.
• An appeals process will be available to learners who feel the grade awarded does not reflect what they would have achieved if they had sat the exam as normal but as of yet I have no information on how this process will work.
• Learners will be awarded full GCSE and Cambridge national (CNAT) qualifications and will receive certificates as normal.
• Although full qualifications will be awarded, there will be the opportunity, if learners wish, to sit exams in subjects at some point from September 2020 onwards if they feel they could have done better.  

What young people need to do now? 

• The most important thing is for learners not to give up on their studies to ensure that they haven’t taken a backwards step when they start college in September. It is particularly important that they maintain high standards of English and mathematics as these are examinations they may want to consider taking in September. They should also be continuing their studies of any subject relating to their proposed post 16 pathway.
• Any coursework that learners have been asked to complete at home for subjects is now vital as we now know this will be used to inform their final grades. This should be emailed to either your teacher or homelearning@pegasusacademy.org.uk.
• It is vital that learners keep and eventually return any books, mock examination papers, assessment materials and home learner so it can be called upon as evidence if necessary. Staff are on hand to answer any subject specific questions from parents/carers but can I ask that teachers are not contacted about suggested grades. Teachers are working with learners, not against them. We always have the best interests of our learners at heart and need time to reflect on the wealth of evidence they have before making their final judgement.  

We will be in touch with further updates as we get them. In the meantime, stay safe and continue to follow guidance from the government and NHS. 
 
Yours faithfully 
 
Mr A.P Landers

Principal 

Dear Parents/ Carers

Re: Coronavirus update (COVID-19)

As you are aware the worldwide outbreak of Coronavirus is resulting in changes to how organisations operate and as a result, I have taken the decision to make the following changes to our procedures over the forthcoming weeks. As from today, Monday 16th March, the following procedures will apply:

• All external school meetings involving visitors to the academy will be cancelled and will be conducted by telephone (with the exception of safeguarding matters).
• The Senior Leadership Team will conduct any pre-arranged parental meeting by telephone, as opposed to face to face.
• All parents’ evenings will be cancelled and feedback for parents will be sent by other means, as soon as possible.
• Reception will be closed to all external visitors, including parents. Any contact with the academy will need to be conducted via email or telephone.
• All sporting fixtures and trips will be cancelled.
• All external lettings of school facilities will be cancelled.

These measures are not intended to cause any panic but are simply to minimise the risk of infection and safeguard both the staff and learners of our academies. The focus over the forthcoming weeks is the smooth running of our schools.

In common with all other schools in England, all of the academies within Dudley Academies Trust will continue to follow the guidance from Public Health England and the Department for Education. The current advice, as of Friday 13th March 2020, is that any learner who has a temperature or persistent cough should self-isolate for 7 days. The school will authorise all absences that should arise as a result of this. We shall continue to publish government advice on our websites. The very latest health guidelines can be found via the following link to the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

It is important that the education of our learners is not disrupted and that we are able to operate as normal for as long as possible. However, contingency plans are already in place for continuing your children’s studies should the academy be asked to close, and we will keep you updated of any further guidance received.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Yours faithfully
Jo Higgins
Chief Executive

If you have children in Year 6 or 5, you are invited to book a tour of our academy. One of our senior staff will show you our facilities and classrooms while the pupils are in class. You will be able to find out about some of the new and highly successful teaching techniques that we are using, ask questions about life in the school and discuss how pupils settle in when they join. You can visit us on the mornings of Tuesday 10^th, Wednesday 11^th, or Thursday 12^th March. Please use the link below to discover more and book a place!

Dudley Academies Trust recently announced a major careers education programme. We’ve now produced a simple diagram to explain some of the things that your children will be learning and some of the activities they will participate in. See the image below to take a look! There’s much more to come…

Mr Landers, Principal:  Year 11 mock examinations commence after the half-term holiday.  These exams will take place in the hall and will mirror the ‘real’ exams that students will sit in the Summer term.  Mock examinations will be carried out over a two week period.  Timetables have been posted home along with a provisional timetable for the Summer examinations.

Students should ensure that they arrive on time and be fully prepared for any exams they are timetabled in.  We appreciate full parental support during this examination series.

Dear Parent/Carer

Year 11 parents’ evening is to be held at the Academy on Thursday 23^rd January 2020.  The evening will provide the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress towards their summer examinations and discuss any concerns you may have.

You should book appointments to see staff using our online booking system.

Please follow the instructions below to make your appointments with staff you wish to see.  Appointment slots are available from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.  If you are unable to attend the evening during these times, or have difficulty with the booking system, please contact Mr Beckett who will be able to assist you.

The booking system will be open from 3.00pm on 8^th January 2020. Appointments can be cancelled or re-booked until 2.00pm on Thursday 23^rd January 2020.

Online booking system instructions:

1. Click here to view our online booking system
2. Enter your details and confirm your email address (This needs to be active as it will email you a confirmation of bookings).
3. Enter your child’s details (First, Last name and Date of birth), then click on ‘accept and continue’
4. Select the ‘Year 11 parents evening’.
5. Tick the teacher for your child.  Check the appropriate boxes for all children if you have more than one child to book appointments for.
6. Select the timeslot and click book.
7. Once booked please click ‘add appointment’ to accept.  You will then have the option, if required, to leave a message for the teacher to view in advance of the evening.
8. The booking is now complete.  You can close down your browser. You will receive an email confirming your bookings.

Yours faithfully

Mr A Landers

Principal