I write with a very heavy heart after the announcement by the government to close schools across the country. Our approach in this uncertain time has always been to give reassurance to our community, keep our school open and to support all of our families. In truth, despite our best efforts this week, closure was always inevitable as the country moved further into the delay phase to help relieve pressure on the health system.

Over the past week we have been preparing for closure and putting plans in place to ensure that, although our gates will be closed to the vast majority of our students, we keep the learning going for as long as we can, be it in a different format.

The government’s decision has particular impact for our Year 11 GCSE students and our Year 13 A-level students. We have been told that these examinations will NOT take place. Intervention has stopped and students are no longer required to prepare for these examinations. This is a very worrying time for these students who have worked tirelessly towards these exams. All we can say is that we will ensure that our students are supported to secure their next step and we await guidance from the government on the way forward.