What can you expect?
In the secondary section we have focussed on the following core elements for successful virtual school:
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Lessons are started on TEAMs with a live Face to face session of interaction between students and teachers.
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The middle part of the lesson we use: Nearpod, Flipgrid, EdPuzzle, Educake, Padlet, Wakelet, Kahoot, MS office and there are discussions, Q and A sessions, and explanation during this.
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The lesson then finishes with a plenary on TEAMs whereby the face to face interaction completes the learning.
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Students and staff share assignments and feedback either using online applications or via OneNote. For language subjects feedback in given in small groups via the channels facility in TEAMs.
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Offline activities are promoted e.g. Science experiments.
Watch this fun video of Secondary students making rhymes about Periodic Table
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Offline project afternoons for KS3 once per week. These have focussed on STEAM challenges, local impact of COVID, environmental awareness.
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All secondary students have a truncated Wednesday whereby everyone finishes school at 12:45.
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½ hour PSHCE sessions with the tutor happen every week.
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PE lessons continue allowing physical exercise to continue and for students to ‘let their hair down’.
A typical KS3 timetable:
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Period
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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1
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Lessons as normal
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Assembly
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Lessons as normal
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Lessons as normal
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PSHCE
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2
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Lessons as normal
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PE
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Lessons as normal
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3
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PE
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Lessons as normal
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4
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Lessons as normal
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Offline lesson/catch up
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Sports Leadership – lesson, Year 3
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LUNCH
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LUNCH
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LUNCH
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LUNCH
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LUNCH
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LUNCH
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5
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Project afternoon e.g. STEAM
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Lessons as normal
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Early finish – students offline
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Lessons as normal
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Lessons as normal
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6
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Offline lesson/catch up
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Our talented student Ejun from Year 12 drew her daily routine while staying home.
Other important elements of virtual school:
Reporting has continued as per our reporting calendar, but any grades given also take in account work done prior to virtual school.
Student, parent, teacher conferences have continued on TEAMs and attendance rates have been the same as prior years.
Pastoral team have been active in contacting students and parents when attendance and/or engagement has slipped. We offer a supportive, student wellbeing focussed approach to virtual school.
In place of the scheduled IGCSE examinations Year 11 started their IB Diploma course early. The emphasis has been on developing their Approaches to Learning and the skills.
Student leadership initiatives have continued as follows:
Click here to get a sense of our Virtual School Experience