CCB Online

Letter from the Minister of Education re Examinations

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The Minister of Education has just published the attached letter to parents, guardians and students explaining his decision to cancel GCSE, AS and A2 examinations this year. BTEC examinations fall under the remit of the Minister for the Economy who has left the decision on how to proceed up to schools; however, we have decided NOT to proceed with the BTEC Business examination scheduled for next week.

Although we do not yet know what the ‘alternate arrangements’ for awarding will be, we need to stress that the courses and qualifications still continue, so as we have said and as the Minister now states in bold, ‘learners need to stay fully engaged in their programmes of learning’.

The boys must continue to complete work and although work assessed from home may not be considered robust evidence should we be asked for Centre Assessed Grades, it does assess what learning is taking place and therefore remains vital. The boys must continue to engage fully with all work set and all zoom classes scheduled.

We understand that there are still many uncertainties, but fundamentally we currently have no further insight beyond this letter. I do intend to be in contact with the boys in each year group over the coming days face-to-face (virtually) to explain some of these changes, and I will send them a message on Firefly too.

As we know more, we will keep you informed.

I recognise that ‘remote learning’ is not easy at times and that it is not a substitute for in-class teaching, but I also know that we will all do our best in the middle of very challenging times.

As ever, thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Chris Oswald

Vice-Principal 

 

Dear Parent/Guardian

Following the announcement from the Department of Education (Wednesday 6^th January), the College will now continue with remote learning for all pupils from Prep 1 – Year 14 until half term.

We are disappointed for our P7’s regarding the announcements from AQE/PPTC and are currently considering the implications for our Year 8 admissions process. Please rest assured further communication will follow on this subject.

There are many specifics that now require urgent clarification, not least regarding exams, and whilst we await the imminent exam announcement from the Minister we assure you that we will communicate with you as soon as we have clarity.

In the meantime, below are the immediate implications of recent announcements.

Key implications;

·    All pupils from Prep 1 – Year 14 will be actively involved in remote learning until half term.

·    Kindergarten remains open.

·    The College building will remain open for supervision of key workers’ children from Prep 1 up to Year 10 and vulnerable children as per definitions set out by the Department of Education.  (Attached)

·    Our boarding house remains open for those pupils who are unable to return home and these pupils will be supported in their remote learning by our boarding staff.

·    Provision in lieu of free school meals will be made to those children entitled to free school meals while normally in school.

·    Year 8 - Year 11 pupils should continue with their virtual learning as previously instructed, for those Year 11 pupils who were meant to be sitting an external module next week please refer to the comment below.

·    Year 11 and 12 due to sit a GCSE examination next week (Mon, Tues and Wed) – we understand that these will now not go ahead. We await formal notification from the Minister later this afternoon.

·    Year 12, 13 and 14: We understand the Minister of Education will be announcing that GCSE, AS and A2 examinations will now not take place but that they will develop alternative awarding. We wait for the formal announcement from the Minister and further detail on what form these alternative arrangements will take. Following this, we will assess all the implications and rest assured we will communicate further once we have clarity. Online classes should continue.

Please note that the cancellation of exams does NOT mean the removal of assessment for qualifications and all pupils in exams years MUST continue in their virtual learning in the knowledge that alternative assessment arrangements will be put in place.

We share your frustration as we all endeavour to deal with continued uncertainty and as always, we will do all that we can to try and provide clarity and direction amidst the confusion. Whilst this is not what anyone wishes it is the reality we face, and we will do so together and with the collective desire to ensure that learning continues for our pupils.  Rest assured our staff will rise to the challenge once again and the Campbell sense of community which proved one of our most important resources during 2020 will continue to prevail.

 If you have any urgent questions or concerns, please email hmoffice@campbellcollege.co.uk but rest assured we will be in touch as soon as we have more information. 

Kind regards

 

RM Robinson, M.B.E.

Dear Parent/Guardian

CCB Online  -  January 2021

Best wishes to all for the New Year.  2021 is a year in which we have good reason to be hopeful but sadly it begins with further restrictions to your son’s normal attendance at school. I would like to set out in this letter the provision which will be made for online learning for pupils at home during the month of January.

First, a reminder of the position for each year group, in line with the guidance set out in the Minister’s statement last week.

·    Years 13-14 will be taught remotely from Tuesday 5^th - Friday 8^th January, returning to school on Monday 11^th January.

·    Year 12 pupils will be sitting English and Maths GCSE examinations on Monday 11^th - Wednesday 13^th January, in accordance with their individual timetables.  These will be followed by their postponed GCSE mock examinations. Pupils should use the week beginning Tuesday 5^th January to continue their revision and preparation for these examinations.  Further information for Year 12 will follow.

·    Years 8 - 11 will be taught remotely from Tuesday 5^th January through to the end of the month, during which time we expect further announcements to be made by the Minister.

Whilst none of these changes are desirable, we must as a College and as families face up to them and ensure that the welfare and education of our pupils and sons are protected and promoted.  CCB Online provided the framework for first class academic and pastoral support during the lockdown in the Spring and we will work hard now to ensure that it does so again.  However, every time and situation brings its own new challenges, and CCB Online will be adapted to build on what we have learned and to reflect the new circumstances we all face.

 

Online Learning

One of the biggest challenges for boys working at home, often on their own, is how to structure and organise their day.  In school, that structure is created automatically by the timetable.  Our aim during January, will be to provide teaching and learning for your son broadly in line with his timetable. 

This means that each day, your son will have Firefly Tasks to complete which provide work or activity that should be achievable during the time that would normally be spent in that subject in school.  The nature of the tasks will be varied.  However, we recognise the motivational importance of having input, whether ‘face-to-face’ or recorded, from your son’s teachers, and so we will aim that each week, in each subject, your son is able to hear from his teachers.  Where this takes the form of real-time Zoom classes, these will be at the corresponding time to the normal lesson and there will be an expectation that all pupils attend unless there are exceptional reasons preventing them from doing so.

It is disappointing that Year 11 has not been treated as an ‘examination’ year group in the context of the changes announced by the Government, given that Year 11 pupils are scheduled to sit a number of GCSE module exams this summer. However, we are very aware of the importance in particular of Year 11 pupils being fully prepared for these modules and the online learning provided will reflect this.

 

Online Support

One of the main pieces of feedback from boys and parents during the lockdown in the Spring was the motivational and emotional benefits of meeting with tutors and seeing other pupils virtually.  It is our intention that during this second extended period of remote learning for Years 8 - 11, tutors will meet with their tutees once a week via Zoom, to provide some pastoral oversight and opportunity for feedback.

On the CCB Online dashboard (front page) on Firefly, there is a ‘Help’ button which will direct you to support resources for using Firefly, Zoom etc. The College website is also updated regularly to answer questions and provide advice. If you have unanswered questions or you need additional support, whether technical or otherwise, there is a Helpdesk which can be accessed either via the red ‘Help’ button on the CCB Online dashboard on Firefly, or by e-mailing enquiries@campbellcollege.co.uk

All our normal pastoral care systems continue to operate.  If you have individual pastoral concerns, your son’s tutor is the first port of call and can be contacted via the main College telephone number or via hmoffice@campbellcollege.co.uk.  For more serious pastoral concerns, or those of a safeguarding nature, please contact myself as the College’s Designated Teacher via wkeown515@c2kni.net.  The College’s independent Counselling Service will continue to operate during January and referrals can be made via myself or via the Familyworks website, https://familyworksni.com/.

In all matters regarding online learning, but particularly when participating in Zoom

lessons, it is important that your son uses the internet safely and observes the protocols for safe use of Zoom.  A copy of these protocols is attached by way of reminder.

Reminders

Finally, a few reminders of what we would respectfully ask of you as parents.  Whilst the primary responsibility for engaging with learning is the boys, they will need support not only from their teachers but from you. 

Please help to establish routines so that they can broadly follow their school timetable each day. Help them to get back into good sleep habits, which have probably been a bit more relaxed for all over the Christmas period.  Ensure that they have somewhere to work where they are able to minimise distraction. Use Firefly to make yourself aware of what work is being set and to be able to talk with your son about it.

Above all, be mindful of your son’s well-being. Lockdowns are difficult for us all, but particularly so for teenagers who for the most part thrive on social interaction.  We know how important their education is and we will work to provide teaching and learning that gives them structure and enables them to progress. However, their welfare is paramount.  We will work to ensure that tasks are achievable and manageable in the normal time allocated within school. But every individual is different, working at their own pace and imposing differing expectations on themselves.  If the work we are providing becomes an additional source of stress or anxiety, then please inform us and we will do what we can to support people individually.

Thank you for your ongoing support and co-operation.

 

Will Keown

Vice Principal

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Firstly, I hope you have had a safe and restful Christmas and regret that I am having to reach out to you in the middle of your holidays. However, in light of the announcement from the Minister for Education made this morning, I wanted to issue some preliminary information which will be followed up with further details as soon as possible.

In summary, the following has been stated;

·        Primary school pupils will be taught remotely until 11th January, after which they will attend school for face to face teaching;

·        Post-primary pupils will also be taught remotely during the first week of January;

·        From Monday 11th January, pupils in Years 8 - 11 will continue to be taught remotely until the end of January while pupils in Years 12 - 14 will attend school for face-to-face teaching;

·        Childcare settings including those attached to schools, pre-school facilities, nurseries and special schools to be open as usual;

·        External Exams due to take place in January will be facilitated compliant with public health guidance and schools will have flexibility to deliver face-to-face teaching to pupils due to sit those exams, should they wish to do so;

·        Schools will accommodate vulnerable children and the children of key workers from the start of term.

There are further specifics that apply for Campbell College, namely;

·        Boarding:  Our boarding house will open as planned from 2pm on Monday 4^th January. Boarding students will be supported with their remote learning via the boarding house. Parents/guardians are reminded of the requirement of a 10-day self-isolation period for students who return from outside of Northern Ireland.

·        Junior School & Kindergarten: Junior School will follow the guidance as set out by the Minister and our Kindergarten will open as normal on Tuesday 5^th January.

·        Key Workers Children: If you are a key worker as per the definition of Key Workers and are unable to work from home and require supervision for your child/children, please inform Mrs Leigh Crawford, hmoffice@campbellcollege.co.uk by 4.00pm on Friday 1^st January so that we may organise staffing.  Please note this is only for pupils from Prep 1 – Year 10 and will be a supervision facility only.

·        GCSE English and Mathematics Examinations set for the second week in January will proceed.

·        Internal Mock Examinations will be postponed and further information will follow.

·        AQE and PPTC: The arrangements for these have not currently changed but we will keep you informed if the situation evolves.

This is an ever-changing position and we will keep communicating as required. Thank you for your continued understanding and please refer to the website’s dedicated page for further information.

Yours sincerely,

RM Robinson, M.B.E.