Pupil Post

This is the place to view all letters and other documents sent home via 'pupil post'.

Letters in the Last Month

ARRANGEMENTS FOR RETURN TO SCHOOL - AUGUST 2020

Published: Fri 26 Jun 2020

This has been the most unusual and challenging terms for us all, and one I am sure none of us want to repeat! 

Please find below the introduction to a letter detailing Arrangements for Return to School in August 2020 and our Contingency Plan. I am hopeful that the contingency plan will be just that and we will never have to use it as we will all be back in August.  I will be able to update parents/carers after the Depute First Minister’s speech on 30 July 2020, when we will know definitely if we are all back in August or if we need to move to our contingency plan.

I am writing to confirm the arrangements for our return to school after the summer holidays. Following the Depute First Minister’s announcement on Tuesday, the Scottish Government has now asked us to prepare for all pupils returning full-time to school from 12 August 2020 assuming it is safe to do so. At the time of writing we are waiting for further detailed guidance to be provided to all Local Authorities – including on issues such as physical distancing and transportation. Relevant information will be shared with you over the summer holidays so that you have full details on our plans for the start of the new school session.

We have also been asked by Scottish Government to ensure that we have contingency plans in place in case the virus rates increase again in the coming months, and full-time schooling is not possible. For this reason I am writing to share with you what ‘blended learning’ means for Knox Academy. Please note that, following the Scottish Government’s announcement, this is our ‘Plan B’ and we now expect our children to return full-time from 12 August. The purpose of sharing it with you is so that you will know, and can plan, what the impacts will be for your household if health and government advice changes over the summer holidays and we are asked to move to a blended learning model. (Please also see our ‘Contingency Plan for Knox Academy.’ On return we may still adopt some of the aspects within this document but this will be based on the advice from the Scottish Government nearer our return date).

My end of term Head Teacher’s Update is also now available.

I hope you all have a happy and restful holiday. Stay safe and well and fingers crossed to see all of our young people back in August.

Sue Cook
Head Teacher

EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL - EDUCATION UPDATE LETTER - JUNE 2020

Published: Wed 17 Jun 2020

Thank you to everyone who completed our recent parents’ survey where we sought your views about schools reopening. We received 8,246 responses which is an incredible response and we are very grateful to you for taking the time to give us your views. The results of our survey will provide the Education Service and our schools with very helpful information to support our planning for schools reopening in August. We know that this continues to be a challenging time for all families and that you are keen to know what will happen next. I’d like to thank you for your continued patience and support.

In line with the current advice from the Scottish Government, we are planning for our children returning to school in August. We are focussing on the health and wellbeing of our children and staff and we have placed Nurture at the heart of our planning, recognising that we will all need support to adjust and recover after the lockdown period. We are working closely with all Head Teachers on how we can safely bring children in to our school buildings for some in-school learning whilst also continuing with the learning at home. This will be very different for all of us and we understand that this model of ‘blended learning’ will present a challenge for everyone including families in terms of work and childcare arrangements.

... Read the full letter (PDF) from Lesley Brown, Chief Operating Officer (Education)

SURVEY - GETTING IT RIGHT FOR OUR RETURN TO SCHOOL IN AUGUST

Published: Tue 9 Jun 2020

Our Headteachers and school staff are currently progressing their plans to welcome children and young people back into school in August. To help us get this as right as we can for children and young people we would appreciate your views. We would be most grateful of you could complete this short survey regarding your child’s return to school in August by Monday 15 June 2020 4 pm. Paper copies are available from the School Office by request. Thank you.

Archive Letters

SCHOOLS - PHASED REOPENING
Published: Fri 22 May 2020

Following the announcement by the First Minister yesterday about the phased reopening of schools, we know that you will have lots of questions about when and how our children and young people will return to schools across East Lothian.

Full details of the current situation can be read in the letter issued this afternoon (22 May 2020) by Lesley Brown - Chief Operating Officer (Education)

SCHOOL UNIFORM - SESSION 2020/2021
Published: Wed 13 May 2020

As the new session approaches it is important to remind everyone about our expectations in relation to school uniform. Knox Academy is very proud of its tradition of school uniform and the wearing of it helps promote the sense of community within the school, our wider community and create that feeling of ‘belonging’. Alongside ‘Respect’ and ‘Ambition’, ‘Community’ is one of our school values and it is hoped our young people wear the Knox Academy uniform with pride.

Full details can be found in our School Uniform Letter issued in May 2020.

SQA - ARRANGEMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION - AUGUST 2020
Published: Mon 30 Mar 2020

As you will be aware, the Depute First Minister has announced that this year’s SQA exams will not now go ahead. Firstly, and most importantly, please do not worry – we want the best for all of our pupils. We will do everything we can to ensure no Senior Phase pupil is disadvantaged, and the Scottish Government, and the SQA will be working with us on this. We understand that this is an uncertain time for everyone but we will keep you up-to-date with any new information as soon as we have it.

You can read the latest updates from the SQA on their website.

This letter (PDF) provides pupils and their families with an SQA update, and answers some of the more common questions we have had:

  • Will pupils’ achievements this year be recognised?
  • What happens if a pupil did not complete the coursework for a subject?
  • Can a pupil still complete and submit coursework to the SQA online with their teacher?
  • Why should a pupil continue to complete online tasks set by a teacher when the school cannot submit any work to the SQA for marking?
  • Will I receive certification for achievements this year?
  • How do teachers decide on an estimate grade?
  • A pupil has produced work at home – can that contribute to the estimate grade?
  • Does a disappointing prelim grade automatically mean a poor estimate grade?
  • Can a teacher tell a pupil what grade they are going to get in a subject?
  • Can a pupil find out what their final grade will be before 4 August?
  • Other commonly asked questions

MANAGING THROUGH THIS TIME OF SCHOOL CLOSURE - SOME USEFUL INFORMATION
Published: Tue 24 Mar 2020

The Educational Psychology Service have produced a couple of documents to help manage during this time of school closure.

For Parents/Carers:
Your child will learn from your response to the current situation. Seeing you stay calm and resilient will be crucial to help them cope with the circumstances. It is helpful to maintain structure and routine for your child or children whilst schools are closed.
15 Tips for Parents/Carers

For Young People:
This is a strange time for everyone. We need to make sure we are avoiding physical contact and washing our hands to keep ourselves and others safe from a virus called COVID-19. This means school buildings have closed.
Tips for Young People