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Updates

Coronavirus Information 2021

By January 5, 2021March 22nd, 2021No Comments

UPDATED: Monday 22nd March, 2021

Latest update:

Free School Meals:

Circumstances may have changed for a number of families during the Covid-19 crisis. For instance, parents/carers may have been furloughed or lost their jobs in which case you may now be eligible for Free School Meals. St James’ has been providing vouchers to our families who are eligible for Free School Meals since the week beginning 23rd March. Please do contact our School Business Manager if you require any further information or if you would like to view the qualifying criteria please click the link below:

Safeguarding:

To report any safeguarding concerns, please click here to contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Scott

Please follow the link to view the Keeping Children Safe in Education Interim Safeguarding & Child Protection Arrangements for Schools & Colleges- Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Year 11:

Please click here to read the following letter regarding the current situation for our Year 11 students, including what we know so far around the examinations

Ofqual and the Department for Education want to hear the views of students who were due to take their exams, their parents and carers, their teachers, school and college leaders and others who have an interest, including further and higher education providers, and employers. The consultation covers general and vocational qualifications, with this document focusing on the former. This consultation closes at

Ofqual and the Department for Education Consultation

Please click here to view the consultation

Remote education provision

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and parents or carers about what to expect from remote education if local or national restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home. We have addressed key questions that parents or carers may have about remote learning and have provided contact details of key members of staff.

Will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school?

We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school wherever possible and appropriate. However, we may need to make some adaptations in some subjects whilst children are at home, for example in PE. 

How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?

All students will follow their normal timetable as if they were in school including form time. This means all students will receive 5 hours 15 minutes of learning. The school day is as follows:

8.45am – 9am Form Time
9am – 10am Period 1
10am – 11am Period 2
11am – 11.15am Breaktime
11.15am – 12.15pm Period 3
12.15pm – 1.15pm Period 4
1.15pm – 2pm Lunchtime
2pm – 3pm Period 5

How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?

Students will access their learning through the platform of Zoom and this will be in the form of live lessons. All students have been issued with a St James’ email address to facilitate this. Where appropriate, resources are also added to Show My Homework and homework will continue to be set as normal.

If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?

We recognise that some pupils may not have suitable online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education:

  • Parents/Carers of students experiencing difficulties accessing online learning due to a lack of devices or who do not have an internet connection, should contact Mr Scott, Assistant Headteacher d.scott@stjamescheadle.co.uk
  • Where possible, we will support with the loan of devices and the provision of dongles or SIM cards. These devices are provided by the DfE and are limited in number 
  • Students experiencing technical difficulties may contact our IT Technicians a.millar@stjamescheadle.co.uk or t.millar@stjamescheadle.co.uk 
How will my child be taught remotely?

We use live teaching (online lessons) via Zoom to teach pupils remotely. There may be instances where students will be set tasks on Show My Homework if a member of staff is absent or unavailable to teach. Parents/carers will be advised of staff who are not Zooming on the relevant day.  

What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents and carers should provide at home?

We ask that parents/carers support the school and their child by providing a suitable place to work free from distractions and with nothing private in the background. Students should be dressed appropriately; this does not need to be school uniform. A secure internet connection should also be used.  We ask wherever possible that the students have access to a microphone and camera to allow them to participate fully in Zoom.  Students must enter the classroom using their surname and form so as to identify themselves to the teacher; students will only be admitted who are in that teacher’s class. It is imperative that students behave appropriately during these online lessons; anyone who does not will be removed from the lesson and not allowed to re-join. 

Students should participate in all lessons, if they will not be attending due to illness or medical appointments, then parents/carers should contact our Attendance Officer, Mrs Hanley, by email c.hanley@stjamescheadle.co.uk 

How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?

Staff will record attendance and this will be monitored by the Pastoral team. Where students are not engaging with online learning contact will be made with Parents/Carers.

How will you assess my child’s work and progress?

Feedback can take many forms and may not always mean extensive written comments for individual children. For example, whole-class feedback or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms are also valid and effective methods, amongst many others. Each Faculty will follow their assessment policy where appropriate but methods for feedback may be adapted to suit Zoom teaching to include more regular verbal feedback, whole class feedback and feedback on work submitted via Show My Homework.  

How will you work with me to help my child who needs additional support from adults at home to access remote education?

We recognise that some pupils, for example some pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), may not be able to access remote education without support from adults at home. We acknowledge the difficulties this may place on families and we will offer support and guidance where required. Staff who support these pupils in school will make contact with parents/carers to offer their guidance. Those students who have an EHCP may access a place in school where appropriate.

Remote education for self-isolating pupils

Where individual pupils need to self-isolate but the majority of their peer group remain in school, teachers will lead ‘hybrid’ lessons whereby students at home can access them via Zoom.  All Parents/Carers have been provided with the Zoom codes for these lessons.

For any general queries related to remote learning please contact the Senior Deputy Headteacher, Mrs Pickles, c.pickles@stjamescheadle.co.uk

SEND Information:

Latest Government advice:

Below are links to the latest Government advice:

Previous updates:

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