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You will be aware from the national media that the Department for Education has made sudden and late changes in its expectations of schools when they re-open in January.  All secondary schools have been asked to extend the previously planned staggered start to the spring term. 

For exam group students in Years 11 and 13, remote learning will commence on Tuesday 5th January.  Students in these year groups should remain at home and should log on to Microsoft Teams at 10.50am on the 5th for registration with their form tutor.  Online lessons will begin with period 3.  Students in both year groups will return to school on Monday 11th January. 

We will also provide on-site education for our more vulnerable children and children of key workers. Members of staff from our Flexible Learning Centre will be in contact directly with some families on Tuesday 5th January to invite them into school from Wednesday 6th January.  If you are a critical key worker and are unable to source care for your child during this first part of term, please contact the school office (office@uhs.org.uk) to book a place.  We will confirm arrangements back to you by email.

Students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 will remain at home for an extra two weeks and return to school on Monday 18th January at the normal times.  Provision of remote learning in the period up to the 18th is being considered for these year groups and an update will follow. 

The school will be working to set up a rapid flow testing centre during the opening two weeks of term.  The set up will include the collection of parental consent forms for all our students.  When we have more details on this, a further communication to parents will be sent and will include the consent form.

Start of term arrangements are detailed in the Principal's update of 1st January below.

Our staggered start and finish times have helped keep student bubbles apart. We will continue with these with the following amendments:

On Monday, 13th January, 22 of our Year 7 and 8 students attended The Big Dance Off competition at the Beck Theatre. Students showed great teamwork and determination in a very tough competition. Although they did not get through to the next round we are extremely PROUD of their hard work and dedication to the school dance team.

On Friday 1st November eight Year 10 students completed their Junior Leaders Qualification with the FA.

In September students participated in the ‘Shakespeare in Trial’ programme. This event united Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The National Justice Museum and Brunel University, London. The programme brought both literature and the legal system to life by subjecting fully-realised fictional characters to in-depth examination, using a play as visual and textual evidence, giving young people an opportunity to experience both the world of theatre and the drama and theatricality of the courtroom.