News and views {BIG ASK}
What are your hopes for the next educational year? For this month’s BIG ASK, you told us what your hopes are for the next educational year beginning in September
Claire Brand, business manager
10
Summer 2021
I have several hopes for the next school year as we start a move towards our normal ways of working. I hope that: ● the vaccination programme continues to roll out at a fast pace to ensure everyone is vaccinated as soon as possible to minimise the disruption to education, preventing it from going any further than it has already. As the parent of a Year 11 student, I know that he would have achieved better outcomes had he had the full two-year course of study; ● any lingering or new advices are not thrust upon schools without adequate lead time; ● the wider enrichment opportunities offered to students are able to fully resume; for example, one of the effective strategies that was halted was cooking. As a PRU, education outside of the classroom is important for social and emotional development; not being able to use minibuses, run the normal programme of activities, or access provision such as indoor climbing has been difficult for staff and students alike; ● the LA may provide the budget statement, and any changes to commissioning agreements, in a timely manner in order to facilitate effective budget preparation; ● the financial burden of the country due to COVID will not have a further detrimental effect on school budgets - although I fear that this has already started…..
Stacey Bull, head of operations
My hopes for the next academic year are a sense of normality, and a return to the focus on educating young people, rather than keeping them within restrictions. During the last year, I have spent more time reading health guidance and writing (and re-writing!) risk assessments than I have ever spent in my 13 years as a school business manager. When someone mentions a room change I tremble with fear about the cleaning requirements and the potential bubble-contamination! As an academy, we have managed incredibly well and our building with separate chapter wings has been a godsend for keeping students apart. I know many other schools have had difficulties with this. Watching the children remain in their own year group, without the natural interaction with peers of different ages, has been hard. No Year 7 camp, no learning outside the classroom - no prom! They have missed out on so many enriching life moments that they won’t get back. I hope that next year we can provide them with a full extracurricular programme that stretches all of their abilities, and enhances their cultural capital.
