Thomas Clarkson Academy

Safeguarding & information for families

Published 05/01/21

Please see below the support signposting available for parents and students.

Notice of Academy closure

Published 04/01/21

Dear Parents/Carers,

Following tonight’s announcement by the Prime Minister, the only children who should be attending school tomorrow are those in the vulnerable category or those whose parents are critical workers. The definitions for both these categories can be found here.

LATEST: Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates

Published 04/01/21

January 5th - letter to parents/carers

Click here to view a letter to parents/carers regarding school closures.

December 11th - Contact tracing letter

Click here to view a contact tracing letter to parents/carers

December 7th 2020 - Positive COVID-19 case (Year 12)

We have been notified of a positive COVID-19 test result for a student in Year 12 and we have followed all of the guidance and advice from Cambridgeshire Public Health.

In line with the advice given, we have identified close contacts of the students and asked 10 other Year 12 students to self-isolate for 14 days from when the student was last in school.

The student who tested positive was last in school on Thursday 3^rd December which means that the identified close contacts need to isolate up to and including 16th December. We have already been in contact with all of the parents of the students identified as close contacts and the students are now at home. If we have not spoken to you, you child is not affected and should continue to come to school.

December 3rd 2020 - Positive COVID-19 case (Year 9)

We have been notified of a positive COVID-19 test result for a student in Year 9 and we have followed all of the guidance and advice from Cambridgeshire Public Health.

In line with the advice given, we have asked the students in the classroom bubble and some other identified close contacts, to self-isolate for a period of 14 days from when the student was last in school.

The student who tested positive was last in school on Monday 30^th November which means that the identified close contacts need to isolate up to and including 14^th December. We have already been in contact with the parents of all of the students identified as close contacts so if we have not spoken to you, you child is not affected and should continue to come to school.

October 18th - Letter to parents

Click here to read a letter to parents regarding two members of staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.

October 16th - Symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses/sending your child to school

Click here to view an information poster containing guidance on what to do if your child is unwell.

October 13th update - one COVID-19 case confirmed

Please see letters below which were sent home to parents following the confirmation of a COVID-19 case in school:

Close contacts letter - this letter was sent only to the parents/carers of students who need to self-isolate. In addition, each of the students who were told to self-isolate were spoken to personally, along with their parents/carers.

Whole school letter - this letter was sent to all parents/carers of TCA students to inform them of the situation.

COVID-19 related absence from school

Click here to view a quick guide for parents regarding COVID-19 related absence from school.

COVID-19 Behaviour Policy Addendum

Click here to view the COVID-19 Behaviour Policy Addendum - September 2020.

Videos: A message from the Principal and safety measures at TCA - September 4th

A message from Principal Mr Scott:

A summary of the safety measures we have put in place to keep our school community safe:

Cambridgeshire County Council parent handbook - September 2nd 2020

Click here to view county council's Welcome Back to School booklet for parents/carers of children returning to school.

Updated parent handbook - September 1st 2020

As new guidance is received around schools re-opening, our parent handbook has been reviewed and updated. Please read the most recent version here - updates to previous information can be found underlined in purple on pages 5, 10, 12 and 13.

Letter to parents (August 11th): September full re-opening

Face coverings in school - August 27th 2020

Click here to read the latest information.

Result of the COVID-19 risk assessment for the full reopening of Thomas Clarkson Academy from autumn term 2020.

Following the Government’s announcement that schools are to reopen to all students at the start of the autumn term 2020, we have been preparing our school to safely welcome back students and staff. This has involved a comprehensive risk assessment process to ensure risks continue to be effectively managed. Consideration has been given to balancing the minimisation of risks from Coronavirus (COVID-19) with providing a full educational experience for children and young people, in line with Government guidance.

Government guidance for the reopening of schools, including that for parents and carers, can be accessed here.

Thomas Clarkson Academy and The Brooke Weston Trust will continue to monitor guidance and will adopt a dynamic risk management approach to ensure the operation of the school remains as safe as possible.

The results of our risk assessment are published here. We have also produced an information booklet (link below) which is intended to give you an outline of what our new school environment will look and feel like and reassure you that we will do everything we can to make school as safe as it can be for students and staff.

Letters to parents - July 21st 2020

End of term letter to parents/carers

GCSE results day information

A level results day information

Letter to parents - July 10th 2020

Letter to parents: September re-opening

BWT CEO parent update

Letter to parents from BWT's CEO - June 26th 2020

School re-opening information (June 10th update)

The following documents have been sent to Year 10 and Year 12 families, ahead of school re-opening for these year groups from Monday 15th June 2020. For other year groups, these documents are for information only.

Principal's letter
Guide to re-opening: Year 10
Guide to re-opening: Year 12
Attendance and meals booking form
Behaviour Policy addendum
Home School Agreement

Letter to parents (May 22nd)

Click here to read a letter to parents/carers regarding TCA's proposals for the summer term.

Update to parents from BWT CEO - May 13th

Click here to read a letter to parents from BWT CEO Andrew Campbell.

Important update for Year 13s - Thursday 7th May

Letter to Year 13 students

More details: Government support package for universities and students

Covid-19 Ofqual GCSE and A Level Guidance

Ofqual have today (03/04/20) set out details on how GCSE and A level grades will be awarded in the summer. Please see below Ofqual GCSE and A level guidance documents for your information. Please bear with us whilst we digest the contents. We will update you further in the coming weeks as more details emerge.

Letter to students from Ofqual

Ofqual guidance

This page contains all the latest information for parents/carers regarding coronavirus (COVID-19).

Click here: TCA SEND information report update COVID-19 - April

Please note: This report must be read in conjunction with Thomas Clarkson Academy’s SEND Information Report.

COVID-19 - Free School Meals Update - Tuesday 1st April

Free School Meal arrangements from Monday 6th April 2020

Please visit www.brookewestontrust.org/coronavirus for further information.

School closure update – Sunday 22^nd March

For those students who will be attending school tomorrow (children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home), the normal school times apply – 8.30am to 2.55pm. Students are permitted to arrive from 8.20am onwards. On arrival, students should use the community entrance.

If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. Many parents working in the sectors critical to the COVID-19 response may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

For Key Stage 3 students who were absent last week and did not receive their resource packs, the packs will be available from reception from Monday 23^rd March. There are also copies of the resources on our website (http://bit.ly/BWT-KS3-Resources), where students can also access online learning and communicate with teachers.

People can get in touch with the school via the normal routes and should check the website for information.

School closure letter to parents/carers - March 20th

Please click this link to access Key Stage 3 resource booklets for students http://bit.ly/BWT-KS3-Resources.

To log in, use the 'Quick Links' menu (top right) and select RM Unify.

Alternatively, click on the orange 'Remote Learning' bar on the TCA website homepage.

You should only send your child to school on Monday if you have to, because your work is critical to our COVID-19 response. If you are able to keep your child at home, you should. #StayHomeSaveLives

Coronavirus Covid-19 update - School Closure Information (20 March)

Please visit www.brookewestontrust.org/coronavirus for further information about school closures for Brooke Weston Trust schools.

Coronavirus Covid-19 BWT Statement Regarding School Closure Announcement - 18 March

Following the government’s latest announcement, the situation regarding the opening of schools has changed. Please visit www.brookewestontrust.org/coronavirus for full details.

Students develop museum exhibition for Silver Arts Award

Published 17/12/20

Two students have been volunteering at Wisbech and Fenland Museum to work towards their Silver Arts Award.

Students working with PhD researchers

Published 16/12/20

A number of students in years 9, 10 and 12 have been taking part in online tutorials with PhD researchers to experience university-style learning and develop their critical thinking.