Dear Parents and Carers,

As you are likely aware, the Met Office has issued an Amber and  RED Heat Warning for our region through to the end of Thursday, the details surrounding this warning have been updated several times over the weekend. 

Many thanks for your patience whilst we have finalised additional adjustments to school routines and expectations to those shared last Friday. 

To keep our students safe, comfortable, and focused, additional temporary adjustments will be in place for the remainder of this school week. 

Please review the details below carefully.

Important Reminders for All Students

Please ensure your child comes to school fully prepared for the extreme temperatures:

• Water Containers: Students must bring a large, refillable water bottle to school. We have multiple water refilling stations across the school. Please do ensure your child has a suitable water bottle / container.
• Suncream: Please apply / check your child has applied a high factor suncream before they leave for school. Students should also bring a bottle of suncream in their bags to reapply during break and lunchtime.

Temporary Timetable & Uniform Amendments

To significantly reduce heat stress, we are making the following adjustments from Tuesday to Friday inclusive:

• Cooking Lessons Cancelled: All Practical Food/Cooking lessons are suspended from after Period 1 tomorrow (Tuesday) for the remainder of the week. The high heat generated by the ovens and hobs makes the technology rooms unsafe in these temperatures. Students who normally have cooking will instead focus on theory lessons in classrooms.
• PE Lesson Adjustments:  PE lessons may take place indoors or will be in shaded areas of the school site. Lessons will be adapted to focus on theory or low-exertion activities to prevent overheating.
• Playground (Courts and Cage) Closures: To keep students out of the direct midday sun, the main playground (Tennis Courts) will be shut during break and lunchtime. Students will be encouraged to sit in the shade and hydrate. Ball games and physical activities will not be allowed.
• Restricted Break Time Venues: Students will be directed to designated indoor areas and specific outdoor shaded zones. They will be actively encouraged to sit calmly, rest, and completely avoid physical exertion during these times.  If the timetable allows, we will open some additional indoor spaces for students during their free time. 

 

• Extra-curricular PE clubs and fixtures: These will be suspended from Tuesday for the rest of the week. 
• Uniform Relaxed: 
  • You will be aware that we had already relaxed uniform expectations regarding blazers in communications shared last week. 
  • Today we adjusted further and asked students to remove ties and allowed shirts to be untucked. 
  • As temperatures climb further, from tomorrow the following additional amendments will be in place from Tuesday for the rest of this week only. A further update will be issued on Friday with regards to expectations next week. 
  • Students can choose:
    • To wear their normal school uniform without the need for a blazer or tie, shirts can be untucked. 
    • Students can wear their normal loose fitting school shirt with their PE shorts or skort.
    • Students can wear their PE kit, which is their shorts or skort with their PE top. We would not expect students to wear leggings or tracksuit bottoms, as they are inappropriate in these temperatures.
    • Students will be expected to wear their normal school shoes or PE trainers during this week. 

Year 10  Mock Examinations - Thursday and Friday afternoons

• At present Year 10 mock examinations will continue as planned on Tuesday and Wednesday. 
• Some amendments will be made to the schedule on Thursday and Friday afternoon to allow students to complete assessments in air-conditioned rooms on Thursday afternoon.  This will also mean that we avoid the whole cohort being in an exam venue during extreme temperatures on Thursday afternoon. 
• Changes will be communicated directly to Year 10 students. 

 

We will continue to monitor temperatures and conditions across the school site. If the situation changes, we will update you immediately via email and text.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community safe during this  heatwave.