This term we have been very lucky to have a Welsh Rugby player teaching our key stage 3 girls in school. Kelsey is flying to France next week with the Welsh team to compete in the six nations.

Kelsey Jones has really inspired some of our girls to take up the sport which is amazing. She also took one of our student’s rugby which the whole Welsh rugby team signed.

We are sure that all of our students want to wish Kelsey and her teammates the best of luck in the forthcoming Six Nations!

Students have celebrated World Book Day with a difference this year. While we have not been in school to celebrate everything related to books and reading, students have still participated in our special literature based events that take place every year.

Please click on the link below to watch our virtual World Book Day assembly:

Our activities and resources relating to World Book Day can be accessed by clicking this link:

We are delighted that students will be making a phased return from Monday 8th March. Students will return as follows:

• Monday 8th March – Year 11
• Tuesday 9th March – Year 10
• Wednesday 10th March – Year 7
• Thursday 11th March – Year 8
• Friday 12th March – Year 9

The phased return will allow eligible students to be tested before they return to classes. Please also be advised that students and staff are asked to wear masks in all indoor areas, including classrooms. This will be reviewed at the end of this term.

We are genuinely excited that all students will be able to enjoy a full curriculum in all specialist areas and classrooms. Students will also be able to participate in a full extra-curricular programme within the first week of their return (more details will follow).

Please read Mr. Bell’s letter to parents and carers for more details:

Year 9 students are currently considering which subjects they would like to study in their GCSE and BTEC options. Parents and carers will be able to make bookings for our forthcoming Options Evening on 10th February on School Cloud and Senior Leaders will be individually meeting all students at the beginning of March ahead of submitting options. Parents and carers will also be receiving their second interim report at the start of next week.

In addition, Heads of Subject have recorded videos outlining the GCSE and BTEC courses available for students next year. These videos can be accessed on You Tube, please search for ‘Sir Willam Romney’s Options 2021’. Alternatively, please click on the links below:

Sir William Romney’s Options 2021

SWR Introduction to our options process

SWR GCSE Art

SWR BTEC Child Development

SWR GCSE Computer Science

GCSE DT and Food

SWR GCSE Drama

SWR BTEC Enterprise

SWR GCSE Geography

SWR GCSE History

SWR GCSE Modern Foreign Languages

SWR GCSE Music

SWR GCSE PE

SWR GCSE RE

SWR GCSE Triple Science

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday 4th January, the vast majority of students will not attend school and attend live and directed lessons from home until after the February Half-Term.

Mr Bell has written to all parents on Tuesday 5th January to confirm arrangements for the rest of this term.

In summary arrangements are as follows:

Year 11 students are expected to attend a full live timetable from Tuesday 5th January.

Year 10 students are expected to attend a full live timetable from Thursday 7th January.

Key Stage 3 students are accessing optional lessons that compliment their learning until Friday 8th January. Students in all three year groups will attend a full timetable that includes a blend of live and directed lessons from Monday 11th January.

Remote learning timetables will distributed to parents and students from Wednesday 6th January and all remote lessons can be accessed through students’ calendars on Microsoft Teams.

Please contact Main Reception if you have any queries.

Following the Secretary of State for Education’s announcement that the start of the Spring Term will be delayed for the vast majority of students, Mr Bell will be sending a letter to all parents confirming arrangements on Friday 1st January. Further details will be available in this letter but the most important information is listed below.

Week Commencing Monday 4th January

It is recognised that it is safer for the vast majority of students to remain at home this week. Therefore, all year groups will remain at home and Y11 mock exams will NOT take place in this week. Year 11 exams will begin on Monday 11th January (more details provided in Mr Bell’s letter).

From Tuesday 5th January, Year 11 students will receive live lessons through Microsoft Teams and a timetable will be confirmed on Monday 4th January. Government have clarified that it is not compulsory for schools to set remote learning for students in Years 7 to 10. Students in these year groups will receive links to optional learning that compliments their curriculum on Microsoft Teams from Tuesday 5th January.

Week Commencing Monday 11th January

Year 11 students will return to school to begin their mock exams. Students will follow the second week of their existing mock exam timetable throughout this week. All other year groups will begin receive live and directed lessons delivered through Microsoft Teams from Monday 11th January. Students in Years 7 to 10 will receive a remote learning timetable for this week by Thursday 7th January.

Week Commencing Monday 18th January

It is anticipated that all students will be in school from Monday 18th January. Year 11 students will continue their mock examination timetables (this will be the first week of their mock exam timetable).

Lateral Flow Testing

The school will be undertaking extensive training and preparations to begin mass Covid testing from Monday 11th January. Parents and carers will receive further information and consent forms before students are due to return to school

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are sadly unable to hold our annual Open Evening and Mornings. We fully understand that this is a very important time for Year 6 pupils and their families to visit secondary schools to experience their atmosphere, culture and ethos.

To support pupils and their families we will be releasing a video introducing SWR before the end of September. Our Headteacher, Mr Bell, will also be hosting a live Q&A forum on Wednesday 30th September, More details can be found by reading the letter below.

http://swr.gloucs.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2009-Open-Evening-Letter.pdf

We are looking forward to welcoming all students back to SWR at the start of September. Our Headteacher, Mr Bell, will send a letter to all parents on 24th August explaining the detailed plans that are in place to enable all students and staff to safely return to school. Our extensive risk assessment can be found by clicking the ‘Covid-19’ tab at the top of this page or clicking this link: http://swr.gloucs.sch.uk/covid-19

Students will return to school as follows:

• Wednesday 2nd September: Year 7 students only
• Thursday 3rd September: Year 7 students and Year 11 prefects only
• Friday 4th September: Year 7 students and Year 10 students (GCSE Induction)
• Monday 7th September: All students

As parents and carers will read in the letter, students will be expected to wear full school uniform and the timings of the day remain 8:55 to 3:20pm. However, we kindly ask that students are not on site before 8:45am as staff need to support students and direct them to designated areas.

After a long time away, we know that students will feel a mixture of excitement and probably worry about returning to school. As parents will read in the forthcoming letter, our priority in the first term is to support students in returning to learning and school. We cannot wait to get started and please contact Main Reception if you have any queries.

We would like to congratulate all of our students who have received their GCSE results today. In this uniquely challenging year it is important to make clear that our students have done extremely well and worked hard for their GCSEs over the past two years, they fully deserve the results that they get today and should feel proud of their achievements.

Over the five years, we have always been very proud of this cohort’s independence, resilience and aspiration and we are delighted that they are now able to access the next stage of their education in local colleges, sixth forms and apprenticeships. They are an impressive collection of young adults. On behalf of all our staff, I wish them the very best in the next stage of their journeys.

Jon Bell – Headteacher