A STUDENT who initially had her dreams of studying medicine dashed after downgraded results has spoken out about what has been a rollercoaster week.

Rebekah Fell-Crook, a Prestatyn High School student, has always been a straight A student. However, she was left devastated on A level results day last week when she attained a B in Biology, B in Chemistry, a C in Maths and a C in Physics.

She had been predicted a B in Maths, A in Chemistry, A in Physics and A in Biology.

Rebekah's results were sent to Cardiff University by the WJEC and her place on a medicine course was automatically declined.

Speaking about collecting her results and what the week has been like since she picked up that all important envelope, Rebekah said: "I had already seen on UCAS that I had not got the grades I needed to be accepted onto the medicine course. I had instead been offered a place to study Chemistry in Cardiff which was not a course that I had applied to. I found this really stressful as I had to sit at home for two hours before I could go to school in my time slot to pick up my results.

"I would like to thank everyone in Prestatyn and the surrounding community who has helped bring justice for A level students across the country by signing and sharing petitions and letting the exam boards know that what they did was unacceptable and unfair.

 

"I would also like to thank the amazing teachers and staff at Prestatyn High School who have pushed me to be the best student that I can be throughout my time in high school and sixth form. I cannot describe how grateful I am for all that they have done for me - I would not be the person that I am today without their encouragement.’

 

Read the full article here - https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/18658591.prestatyn-student-initially-hopes-dashed-speaks-despair-delight-levels-grades-u-turn/?ref=twtrec

Dear Parents and Carers

I do hope you are all safe and well. Today Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education announced her plans for the further opening of schools in September. The guidance for how this will be organised and arranged safely will be issued by the Welsh Government in the next few days. As soon as we have received this guidance and formulated a clear plan, we will contact you with how the new academic year will be arranged. All plans will be based on the advice we receive and will be focused on keeping all pupils and staff safe. I will write to you before the end of term with our plans. Keep well and I will speak to you soon.

Neil Foley - B.Sc. MA.
Pennaeth Headteacher

Return school ‘hugely successful’ as pupils, parents and teachers are relieved to back at school

Prestatyn High have now welcomed back a wider number of pupils as part of the ‘Check in, Catch Up, Prepare for summer and September’ Welsh Government scheme.

Neil Foley, Headteacher at Prestatyn High school, said: "The wider opening of the school has been hugely successful. Both staff and pupils have quickly adapted to the changes and we are delighted to have them all back. A school is nothing without pupils and they have been missed greatly. We appreciate the support and cooperation of our fantastic parents and the wider community.”

PHS has been open every day since lockdown began for keyworker and vulnerable pupils and this has prepared us well for the challenges we faced in opening up further. Pupils, parents and teachers at Prestatyn High have all said they were relieved and happy to be back at school.

A Year 10 pupil said: ‘I was really nervous about returning to school, but going into Year 11 I felt was important. I didn’t need to worry at all, yes school is different but I feel safe and supported.”

As well as key worker children, 60% of pupils from Years 7-10 are now back in school. Year12 students are in everyday to make sure they are catching up, ready for their exams next year.

Sam on twitter said: “Your communication, organisation and reassurance has been fantastic 👍🏻  Well done!! My son (Y7) has missed school so much, he’s had so much encouragement from his teachers virtually, it’s been so well managed..”

Angela Evans said: “My son, mars 9, enjoyed his first day back in school on Monday Thumbs up 👍🏻”

The school has conducted robust risk assessments ahead of the wider opening in line with Department for Education guidance to ensure the safety and protection of children, staff and adults. Assessments included protective and hygiene measures, staffing, site and premises assessments, learning considerations, as well as two-way communications with parents.

Prestatyn High school will continue to provide home learning resources for children not attending school. The school is now on mission to make sure the pupils catch up and get ready for any challenges ahead.

If you were disappointed when the Big Bang fair you registered for was cancelled, we think we’ve got something to put a smile on your face!

We’re bringing together a day of inspiring online sessions to give young people a front row view of the incredible contribution of scientists, healthcare professionals, engineers, technicians and students in responding to Covid-19.

Big Bang Digital 2020 – science, engineering & Covid-19 takes place on Tuesday 14 July and celebrates the amazing work of scientists and engineers in a pandemic.

TV & Radio Science Presenter, Podcaster & YouTuber Greg Foot will be hosting live, exploring the topic with a range of guests, putting your questions to the experts and bringing his usual energy and enthusiasm to the day.

Hear from the people using their skills and experience to fight Covid-19 on the frontline, to keep things moving, keep the lights on and keep food in the shops. Discover how people have been supporting the environment and promoting wellbeing. Sessions include:

• The worldwide race to develop a vaccine (GSK)
• New habits to protect the planet: the environmental impact of staying at home (Plastic Oceans)
• Young talent against Covid-19 (Big Bang Competition winners)
• Designing a social distancing lanyard (RS Components)
• Rebuilding a greener future (The Environment Agency)
• Keeping the water flowing (Thames Water)
• Designing a low-cost ventilator (Imperial College London)
• Feeding the nation (Harper Adams University)

Check out the latest line-up

Big Bang Digital 2020 is going to be an inspiring day of upbeat sessions to show young people the amazing things you can achieve in STEM and includes interactive polls and live Q&A sessions.

Students (11+) can join #BigBangDigital from school or from home on desktop, phone or tablet, so get the date in the diary and bookmark www.digitalbigbang.co.uk.

Internet Safety - New guidance added  for Digital safety during COVID-19

A key element of pupils returning to school is their teaching and learning. Welsh Government have said that the aim of the check in, catch up and prepare time is get pupils learning fit. In Prestatyn High School we believe that means learning regarding wellbeing, and the essential skills of literacy and numeracy. Pupils will be taught by one teacher for the entire day who will prepare them in these three areas. Due to Year 10 being halfway through their GCSEs we have allocated them two days as it is essential for their studies.

In the first week we will focus on wellbeing, with pupils gaining an understanding of their own wellbeing, the situation and how it has affected them and others as well as giving them skills for managing their own wellbeing.

In the second week onwards each day will be split into three sessions. One session will supplement their work from the first week with additional activities which will support wellbeing. The second and third sessions will be working to make themselves ready for continued learning after the summer break. This will focus on the essential skills of literacy and numeracy. Pupils will be working to improve their abilities in literacy and numeracy through a range of carefully prepared tasks and activities prepared by highly skilled and specialist teachers. We will be building in resilience and independence in with these sessions as well in order to support distance learning.

With blended learning likely to continue beyond the summer we are mindful that pupils need to continue working on their distance learning work to supplement the one day a week pupils are in school. Pupils will continue to be set work on Microsoft Teams, however, knowing that pupils are in once a week they may opt to focus on non-core subjects.