https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/news/August-2020/advice-for-those-using-public-transport-to-travel-to-school.aspx

Denbighshire County Council is advising parents and guardians of children travelling on public buses that owing to social distancing and reduced capacity on public transport, those using public bus services may be adversely impacted.

Parents and guardians of children and young people using public transport to travel to school or college are being advised to make alternative arrangements during the first weeks of term.

The Council is currently working with bus companies to ensure that extra buses are provided to increase capacity where possible.

Cllr Brian Jones the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “Owing to reduced capacity on public transport to ensure social distancing, wherever possible we are putting on extra services for school and college learners, and we are working to ensure they can travel to school safely, which is of paramount importance.

“We understand this is a very difficult time for parents and we want to assure them that we are working to make sure the return to school runs as smoothly as possible.

“However, owing to a number of pressures associated with Covid-19, we are asking parents who are able to transport their children to school or college to do so for the first two weeks of term or, where possible, to encourage the use of active travel.

“Those parents who can transport their children to school or college are asked to walk where possible or to park further away from school to avoid congestion.

“Parents of all pupils aged over 11 using school buses or public transport to get to school are also reminded they need to wear a face covering while using buses, coaches and where appropriate taxis.”

Some schools are also using staggered times which will impact transport to and from school and parents are being advised to check with their school.

Timetables for public bus services have also been impacted by Covid-19 and parents should check their local provider for the most up to date information.

Denbighshire County Council have recently updated their school transport protocols. Please note that this protocol could be affected by changes to national guidance.

It is the parents’ responsibility:

• To ensure pupils do not travel on school transport if anyone in the household has COVID-19 symptoms.
• To ensure your child has a supply of face coverings before travelling each morning and afternoon. Your child must wear a face covering unless medically exempt. Pupils will not be permitted to board the vehicle if they are not wearing a face covering.
• To acknowledge zero tolerance for poor behaviour on transport. Any pupil who demonstrates poor behaviour, and puts the safety of others at risk, will have transport withdrawn with immediate effect.
• To ensure pupils sanitise their hands before leaving home to board their vehicle.
• Remind learners they must board and alight transport in single file and 2 metres apart.
• Remind pupils they must follow any instructions by their driver and try and minimise the number of surfaces they touch.
• To ensure they have a contingency in places should the transport not arrive e.g. if a driver is unwell at short notice.

Additional information:

• A bin will be made available to dispose of face masks.
• All coaches are to load in the morning and afternoon back to front and unload front to back once at school.

Qualifications Wales estimated almost three-quarters of grades awarded were A* to C, with more than 25% A* and A grades - up from 18.4% last year.

It follows the uproar after last week's A-levels with 42% of moderated grades lower than teacher assessments.

A pupil at Mary Immaculate school in Cardiff said the fallout from A-levels had caused stress for GCSE students.

"But seeing my results today, I'm really happy and proud of myself," said Louis. "The results I got are the ones I wanted."

The exams regulator Qualifications Wales said its "best estimate" was that 74.5% of GCSE grades were awarded at A*-C, compared to 62.8% in 2019.

For GCSE, A-level, AS-levels and the Welsh Baccalaureate, pupils now receive the highest grade, whether that was their teacher's prediction or the standardised grades.

Source BBC Wales - Read and watch the news report

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53834013

Prestatyn High School is absolutely delighted for all of our pupils who received their GCSE grades today.

The pupils truly deserve their fantastic grades and we are so proud of each and every one of them. This has been a very challenging year, but our Year 11s have risen to meet these challenges head on and we are so happy we got to celebrate their successes today.

I am sure they will all go onto even greater success, with many of them now embarking upon A-levels with us in our 6^th Form.

To the class of 2020, we are so proud of you.

Kieron Small - Is returning to Prestatyn Sixth in September to study Drama, Dance and History.

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