Corona Virus Update (Updated 22/3 @ 4.09pm)

Please see the below email sent to all parents/carers from Carol Ann Penrose, Rector.

Dear Parents/Carers

We have just listened to a further announcement from Nicola Sturgeon.  Her message is clear.  In light of further information about the rate of spread of the virus, all schools have to close to all young people.  This includes those for whom arrangements had been made to complete SQA coursework.

This has obvious implications however we will work through these together, it is clear that the health of our young people and their families must take priority at this point.

I know how anxious you will all be at this time hence be assured I will communicate with you regularly to keep you fully updated.  If you have any particular concerns do not hesitate to email me directly on my personal email – carolann.penrose@fife.gov.uk to ensure that I can pick up and respond to as quickly as possible.

Very best wishes,

 

Carol Ann Penrose, Rector

Bell Baxter High School

Corona Virus Update (Updated 19/3 @ 3.13pm)

A letter from Ms Penrose & Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer, sent on Thursday 19th March at 3.13pm.

Dear Parents/Carers,

I know that many families and young people are becoming increasingly anxious over examinations hence I wanted to share with you as quickly as possible that we have just heard more detail from the Deputy First Minister on arrangements for SQA exams this session.  Simultaneously schools have received the communication below from the SQA.

Fife will work through the implications alongside the 18  secondary headteachers to detail what this means for our individual schools and our young people.  I want to reassure all parents/carers and young people in Bell Baxter that the arrangements put in place will have every young person’s best interests at the centre of our thinking in these unprecedented times.   Stay safe, take care and I will be in touch with all of you very soon.

Carol Ann Penrose,

Rector

 

Statement by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer

Thursday 19 March 2020

This is an unprecedented situation, and the closure of schools for an extended period will affect almost every family across Scotland.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority has recently been working through a range of scenarios in relation to the exam diet, including disruption and postponement. However, as the Deputy First Minister has outlined in Parliament today, the exam diet in 2020 cannot go ahead and I have been asked by the Deputy First Minister to develop an alternative certification model.

That work has started, at pace, and I will say more on that as soon as I can. What I can say now is that we want to ensure that we have as much information on the achievements of learners as possible. That is why the Deputy First Minister has asked schools and colleges to continue to work with young people to ensure that any units and coursework are completed and estimated grades are provided by teachers, drawing on the available evidence gathered throughout the year, to SQA’s existing deadlines, or earlier if that is possible. For many learners, we will also have prior attainment information which will be helpful to us.

I fully appreciate that this will be an uncertain time for learners who have worked hard throughout the year and will now, with their families, be worried about what this means for them. Everyone here at SQA will do their utmost, with the support of the education system, to ensure that their hard work is rightly and fairly recognised, and allows them to proceed to further learning or work.

We will work to ensure that learners receive their results no later than 4 August, as planned. We are considering more fully the impact this decision will have on our exceptional circumstances and post-results services. I will confirm that we will offer a free post-results service to ensure that schools and colleges continue to have a mechanism to question any result.

I would strongly encourage all candidates to sign up to MySQA, our online and text service, as a direct way to receive their results.

Everyone at SQA is fully committed to delivering for Scotland’s young people at this exceptionally difficult time.

Fiona Robertson

SQA Chief Executive and Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer

Corona Virus Update (Updated 18/3 @ 4.34pm)

Please see the below letter from Carrie Lindsay, Executive Director of Education & Children’s Services at Fife Council.

 

All Secondary Schools

 

Dear Parent / Carer

 

COVID 19 First Minister’s Announcement Wednesday 18 March 2020 1pm

 

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland made the following announcement at 1pm on Wednesday 18 March.

“My view is that it is now inevitable that we will close schools and nurseries. My planning assumption now is that schools will close to pupils at the end of this week.”

The First Minister indicated she was making this announcement to give parents as much notice as possible. The Deputy First Minister will set out a statement to Parliament tomorrow and he will address key questions parents and pupils will have, particularly, vulnerable pupils, those sitting their exams and children of “key workers”. The First Minister indicated that teachers and school staff will play a vital role in the weeks to come. She also indicated that schools will re-open as soon as possible, but she could not at this time promise that they will re-open before summer.

As a result of this announcement, we will continue our discussions with the Scottish Government regarding what services we will be providing and the roles our staff will play in that.

As detailed above, the Deputy First Minister will provide more detail regarding the SQA exam diet and awarding of qualifications and other key information tomorrow.

We understand that this is an anxious and uncertain time for everyone. As soon as we have further information, we will be sharing that with you.

Yours sincerely

 

Carrie Lindsay

 

Executive Director (Education & Children’s Services)

Corona Virus Update (Updated 17/3 @ 3.13pm)

Please see the below update regarding the Corona Virus:

 

Remote Access to Learning
In light of the current situation, we wanted to let parents know that we are accelerating our plans to move learning onto digital platforms for remote access. All principal teachers are currently working with their Faculties to ensure that every teacher has their classes set up in Microsoft Teams in order to allow teachers to email young people class work and communicate remotely. We are writing an easy guide to Teams for parents and young people and this will be with you before the end of the week. Once all classes are set up we will let you know via text/email. Our plan is to have this in place for the end of the week.

 

SQA Exams
Guidance from SQA is still that all exams will be going ahead as planned. We await further information and will share this with you as soon as we have it. Teachers are working hard at the moment to ensure all young people meet submission deadlines for internal coursework.

Thank you to all of our parents who are being incredibly supportive in such unprecedented times. We understand there will be a level of concern out there and aim to do our best to reassure by keeping you fully informed as new information is passed on. Stay safe, take care and do not hesitate to get in touch if there is anything we can help you with.

 

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