Dear Parents and Carers,

We are currently suffering a significant spike in the number of staff absences due to COVID-19 and other illnesses. This has led to disruption of teaching and learning in a minority of classes as they have not had their normal scheduled teacher for some lessons throughout the week. We are doing everything we can to make sure the pupils are well educated and that we have enough staff to safely keep all of the pupils in school. Our staff are covering each other’s lessons, supporting the pupils and going above and beyond to make sure families are not disrupted by pupils being at home.

We are delighted that up to this point we have not had to switch to online learning for any year group due to staff absence, unlike many schools across Wales. We will continue to do what we can to make sure we are open to all pupils for face to face learning, but there may come a point that we have to ask one year group to switch to online learning. Hopefully this will not happen, but if it does we will give parents notice of any change.

If pupils are asked to switch to online learning then they must follow their timetable and engage in the lessons set by their teachers virtually. Mr Barons will email further instructions as and when needed.

Going forward we ask that all staff and pupils wear face coverings when in communal areas such as corridors and the diner, and not to come into school and self-isolate if they have tested positive or if they have the three classic symptoms of COVID-19.

Regards

Neil Foley - B.Sc. MA.
Pennaeth Headteacher

Open Evening 29th March - Join Prestatyn Sixth and achieve your full potential in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Dear Parents and Carers,

On Monday 28th March, the laws on COVID-19 will change, and most of the regulations will be removed by Welsh Government. This will mean that self-isolation after a positive test for COVID-19 will no longer be required by law after a positive test for the virus. The guidance now asks people to isolate if they can, but it is not compulsory. Additionally, the requirement to routinely wear face coverings in public places has been removed in most settings.

What this means to schools is as yet unclear, as we are still awaiting guidance from Welsh Government as to how educational settings will operate. In the short term, we will continue with our current risk assessment and regulations until we get clear direction.

This means that we will continue to ask all pupils and staff to:

 wear face coverings when in communal areas such as corridors and the diner; and

 not come into school and self-isolate if they have tested positive or if they have the three classic symptoms of COVID-19.

This is a short-term request, but we cannot insist on this. We will also continue to ask all staff and pupils to practice good hand hygiene; this will be a measure that we will continue indefinitely into the future. The building and all classrooms will continue to be as well ventilated as possible and as infection safe as possible. We will continue with the additional cleaning staff and systems set up in school to keep everyone as safe as possible now and into the future.

Routine testing will cease on the 8th of April and LFD testing kits will no longer be issued by Welsh Government to schools after the 31st of March. All pupils and staff must continue testing until the end of term. Please ensure all pupils have enough tests (4) to get to Friday 8th April.

Assemblies and parental events can now take place without restriction and we cannot wait to see parents face to face and invite them into school. The first event to take place is the 6th Form evening next Tuesday 29th March, and we look forward to seeing all parents and prospective students then. We will advise parents and students to wear face coverings at this event and we will have plenty available.

We are definitely coming to the end of the restrictions put in place to protect us during the pandemic, but we are also clearly aware that the virus is still circulating widely all across Wales. Please join us in doing what we can to continue to protect each other whilst we return to some form of normality. Here at Prestatyn High School, we are all very proud of what we and the community have achieved over the past two years. We have not had to send multiple year groups home due to the virus or staff absence, and we have tried to do what we can to support all of our learners during these very challenging times.

I wish you all a very enjoyable and sunny weekend and I hope to see you all soon.

Best wishes and many thanks for your support
Neil Foley - B.Sc. MA. Pennaeth Headteacher

https://gov.wales/pupil-development-grant-access?fbclid=IwAR0F6IAtdrlvkAOwmTlwkGUvD2_mtgSRO6tGCfPmAqus7qoSm1NtI62k0tE

Y11 Revision t_t 22

Dear parents and carers,

Further to the email that was sent out to you earlier today, the school has since been informed that all Denbighshire schools are now closing tomorrow because of the severe weather forecast due to Storm Eunice. This is a decision was taken by Denbighshire County Council.

We therefore write to inform you that the school will NOT be open on Friday 18th February and we will move to online learning for this day only.

Students will be able to access their learning online via TEAMs where work will be set by their class teacher for lessons that they are timetabled. An email will follow from Mr. Barons who will outline the specific plan for the online learning provision for tomorrow.

The own clothes day that was due to take place tomorrow will be rescheduled. This date will be confirmed after half term.

We hope that everyone stays safe tomorrow and we wish our students a lovely half term break.

We will see all students back in school on Tuesday 1st March.

Yours faithfully

Neil Foley - B.Sc. MA. Pennaeth Headteacher