We are approaching the end of an academic year that has certainly been challenging and has required both students and staff to show great resilience and character. It is fitting that this week we have been able to finish with Sports Days for Years 7 -10. These have been very enjoyable occasions and it has been an opportunity for students to excel as individuals and work effectively within teams. Staff have also enjoyed spending time with students away from lessons.

Last day of Term Arrangements

The first arrangements I would like to confirm are those for Friday, the last day of term. We will be having an early finish and to help with the dismissal of different year groups timings will be staggered.

Year Group	Dismissal Time	Dismissal Gate
7	12:15pm	Berwick Gate
8	12:00pm	Berwick Gate
9	12:15pm	Elsa Gate
10	12:00pm	Elsa Gate
12	12:00pm	Elsa Gate

All students will have access to the school canteen at morning break. Food will be grab and go and all those who are eligible for free school meals will be able to get food at this time.

All students will also be in their Form Tutors during period 3. During this time Tutors will run through the arrangements for students return in September. Our return has changed as a result of now needing to ensure all students have 2 lateral flow tests in school. For existing students we are able to use the existing consent provided by parent/carers. For new students to Welling School we will require parental consent for these tests and a separate letter will be sent regarding this.

Testing Arrangements for Student Return in September

Similar to March, we need to set up onsite testing to ensure students have access to two lateral flow tests 3 – 5 days apart. This testing will have an impact when your child returns to school however, the school have tried to put together a plan that avoids delaying the start of term as much as possible. All testing will be in the school sports hall and students should access the site via the Elsa Student Entrance. 

Thursday 2 September

Year 8 Testing from 09.30 – 12.30. Students in tutor groups Alder to Fir should arrive at 09.30. Students in tutor groups Holly to Rowan should arrive at 10.30. Students will go home after testing.

Year 9 Testing from 13.00 – 15.00. Students in tutor groups Alder to Fir should arrive at 13.00. Students in tutor groups Holly to Rowan should arrive at 14.00. Students will go home after testing . No other students will be in school.

Apart from Year 7, work will be set on Google Classroom for students to complete. This will help students to be prepared for their first lesson back.

Friday 3 September

Year 7 Testing from 09.30 – 12.30. Students in tutor groups Alder to Fir should arrive at 09.30. After students have completed their test they will stay in school for an Induction Day. Students in tutor groups Holly to Rowan should arrive at 10.30. After students have completed their test they will stay in school for an Induction Day. All Year 7s will finish school at 15.00 and will leave via the Elsa Student Entrance.

Year 12 Testing from 09.30 – 10.30. All Year 12 students should arrive at 09.30. After students have completed their test they will stay in school until 12.30 to complete an Induction Session.

Year 11 Testing from 13.00 – 15.00. Students in tutor groups Alder to Fir should arrive at 13.00. Students in tutor groups Holly to Rowan should arrive at 14.00. Students will go home after testing.

Year 13 Testing from 13.00 – 14.00. All Year 13 students should arrive at 13.00. After students have completed their test they will stay in school until 15.00 to complete an Induction Session.

Apart from Year 7 work will be set on Google Classroom for students to complete. This will help students to be prepared for their first lesson back.

Monday 6 September

All students return to school. Year 10 will have their second test in the morning. Year 8 will have their second test in the afternoon.

Tuesday 7 September

All students in school. Year 11 and Year 12 will have their second test in the morning. Year 9 and Year 13 will have their second test in the afternoon.

Wednesday 8 September

All students in school. Year 7 will have their second test in the morning.

Thursday 9 September:

Teaching will resume without disruption from testing. For week commencing Monday 13 September home testing kits will be given to students to take twice weekly. The government have said that they will review home testing in September and decide whether it should continue into October.

Further Updates for September

From Monday 6 September all students will be back in school. Punctuality is important and all students are expected to be in school by 08.30 and in their Form Room by 08.40. The school gates will be open from 08.15. The school will also be reintroducing breakfast club in the canteen which will be from 07.30. Further details will be shared at the start of the new term.

We will be continuing with separate entrances and from Monday 6 September Year 7 and Year 8 will arrive and exit via the Berwick Student Entrance and Year 9 – Year 13 will arrive and exit via the Elsa Student Entrance.

The zoning of break and lunch time will also continue and this will be explained more fully when students return in September. We will also be moving to one lunch time (13.30 – 14.00) each day.

As well as separate areas, this will also be possible, as we are adding a new catering facility in the Art Block that will be for Year 7 and Year 8.

We will also be continuing with the one-way system that we introduced at May Half Term. This has really helped the movement of students around the school.

Following feedback from all stakeholders we will also be progressing with our changes to the school day which will see a Form Time reintroduced on a Wednesday and Form Time starting at 08.40 and school finishing at 15.00.

Finally, please can I remind parent/carers of the two week October Half Term (Monday 25 October – Friday 5 November). One reason we have introduced this is to allow parent/carers greater flexibility around booking breaks as it is essential that your child attends school as much as possible.

The Summer Break

As students prepare to start their summer break we have a busy summer in school. This starts on Monday 26 July where we have the start of our Summer School for new Year 7 students. Across the two weeks we are expecting over 200 students to join us.

We also have a significant refurbishment programme taking place. This includes; creating a new Year 7 and Year 8 catering area, refurbishing half the Science labs, refurbishing a Design Technology classroom, updating furniture in the 6th Form Centre, hard landscaping in the Quad, addition of further outside eating areas and replacement of Mac computers in our two Music Technology classrooms.

And Finally...

At the end of this year, we say goodbye to a number of colleagues who are leaving Welling School to pursue new opportunities. On behalf of the school, I would like to thank them for their contribution and wish them all the best in the future.

Two members of staff deserve special recognition. At the end of this week Mr McWhinnie, Director of Learning and Mr Shears, PE Teacher will both be retiring after a dedicated career in teaching. Both members of staff have served Welling School for 24 and 21 years respectively. Many students have benefited from their expertise and their pastoral support and the whole school community are going to miss their contribution. Both are keen golfers and I know they are also looking forward to spending a bit more time with their family. We wish them all the very best in the future.

In September I will write to parent/carers regarding new roles and responsibilities for staff at Welling School.

Please can I wish all parent/carers and their families a restful summer break. This has been a hard academic year and it has required the whole school community to work together. We are excited about our plans for September and I look forward to sharing these with you also working with you to ensure that we build a successful future for your child

With very best wishes.

Yours faithfully,

Mr R Pett

HEADTEACHER