Harrogate headteachers react to school closures due to coronavirus fears

A number of schools have sent letters to parents and carers with details on how they are managing the situation.

Harrogate Grammar School is still operating a partial closure for the rest of this week, with years 7, 8, 11 and 13 in school today, Thursday, and years 9, 11, 12 and 13 on site tomorrow.

It will be closing to all pupils, other than children of key workers including NHS staff and delivery drivers, at the end of the school day tomorrow to comply with new Government guidelines.

In his letter, headteacher Neil Renton urged students in years 11 and 13 who were set to take exams in the coming months to continue working hard despite the uncertainty.

He said: "The Prime Minister announced that examinations will not take place in May and June. Until we receive clarity around examinations and how grades will be awarded, we encourage year 11 and Year 13 students to carry on their preparation as normal. We will communicate more on examinations as we receive further information and guidance."

The school, which says it will be setting up all learning online from Monday on its VLE platforms, is also asking for any parents/carers who think they may be classed as 'key workers' and are in need of ongoing childcare to contact the school urgently.

Other establishments across the area are doing similar things.

St John Fisher Catholic High School and St Aidans Church of England High School are also operating partial closures until they close indefinitely tomorrow afternoon.

St Aidans is open to years 7, 8 and 13 today as well as some year 12 students.

St John Fisher is open for pupils from years 7, 9, 11 and 13 today.

Headteacher at King James' School in Knaresborough, Car Sugden, told parents: "At this stage we have no idea what arrangements will be put in place to decide what grades are allocated to students. As soon as we know more I will tell you. I’ve suggested to year 11 and 13 that they do not stop working. It may be that some more informal teacher assessment and completion of their courses will be used to allocate grades. Please be patient and give us time to find out from Ofqual and the exam boards about how this will work.

"Although there is not much I can say with any certainty, I have spoken to year 13 and year 11 and tried to reassure them. What I have told them is that although they are shocked and unsettled by this news they should not allow this to define them. Irrespective of whether they take their exams or not they have built up skills, qualities and knowledge that will take them to the next stage of their employment, education or training. These young people will be defined by more than a set of exam results."

He has assured parents that the school is prepared for whatever comes next and is doing everything it can.

The Government has promised to release a list of the "key workers" whose children can still go to school during the coronavirus crisis.

And more details will also be given on how pupils would be awarded grades in the absence of exams.