From Monday 22^nd June, there will be an increase in the number of ‘live’ online sessions using Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams is an app that some students have already used successfully. All students have access to it, as part of our Microsoft Office Package, as is the electronic calendar mentioned below. Microsoft Office can be accessed on an iPad or computer.

These are not replacing other lessons, some of which may also be conducted on Teams. They are designed to add to them and to allow us to catch up with students who we are unable to welcome in school, due to government regulations, and see how they are getting on.

Where subjects are able to provide live face to face sessions for students in Years 7, 8 and 9, they have been asked to follow a timetable (see below), to ensure students are not overwhelmed. Some subjects are using this time to deliver video sessions, others are offering tutorial sessions and others are using a blended approach. You can find the exact timetables, when published, in subject areas in the Online Resources section here. Students will also receive invitations to the sessions from teachers and on their online calendar. If your child misses the sessions for any reason, Teams lessons recordings can be found in an app on Teams called Stream and also in the chat on the Teams app for that particular session. 

Mr Day has run a live assembly for Key Stage Three, which includes an explanation of the new system, and you can watch that below.

Years 10 and 12 may find that some of their remote lessons are also set on Teams, alongside their days in school, but they will not follow the timetable below, which is for Key Stage 3 only.

A few weeks ago, we sent out some guidance regarding video conferencing protocols for staff and parents, you can find that here.

Mr Day has given this guidance regarding the expectations that students need to follow for these sessions to be successful: 

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS FOR LIVE SESSIONS

• Install Microsoft Teams on your iPad, and possibly a computer or laptop.
• It would be better to access sessions on an iPad or computer – NOT a phone.
• Look out for the invite to the session (make sure you accept it!)
• You will get reminders and be able to access the session through your calendar
• The same expectations will be applied to online sessions as sessions in school
• Have appropriate resources ready for the lesson
• Be on time! Join the session at least 2 minutes before the scheduled start
• Treat all others respectfully
• Join the session with your video and microphone turned off
• Use the ‘raise hand’ feature to indicate that you have a question that you want to ask
• Use the chat facility as and when instructed
• Sessions will be recorded by the lead member of staff

If everyone involved in the lessons follows these guidelines,then they will be a really excellent experience. Remember, these are not replacing your lessons. They are designed to add to them and to allow us to catch up with you and see how you are getting on.

Mr Day
KS3 Progress Leader