A message to our Year 11 Parents and Students

We find ourselves in deeply unprecedented times.  We understand how upsetting and challenging this is for you as parents and for your child. For us as a school, we have only been given 48 hours’ notice of an immediate school closure which may last for some time.  

The Principal immediately addressed our Year 11 students yesterday to let them know that, at Thomas Middlecott Academy, we are not thinking of today as their last day. If we did, it would undoubtedly be too rushed, half-hearted and an unfitting send-off to an incredible year group. 

We want you to know that we are fully committed into giving the Year 11 students a proper farewell but at a time when there is reduced risk to everyone’s health.  We want to say our goodbyes and celebrate their successes properly. We know how much they were looking forward to their end of year celebrations and the Prom. We want to reassure you and your child that this will happen, but only once it is deemed safe to do so. We have built strong bonds with all our students over the last five years and this is just as saddening for our staff as it is for our students.  

At the moment we are having to prioritise home-learning for over 500 students. Please understand that we have had to move incredibly quickly in the last 48 hours to get online platforms set up ready to go for Monday to keep up with the Government’s decision.  Our priority has had to be the organisation of school for those children of key workers and other vital services from Monday, throughout the Easter holidays and beyond.  We are complying fully with Government guidance to provide continuous learning online and keep things as calm as they possibly can be. Therefore, Year 11 students will continue to work with their teachers online as there is still possibility that schools may re-open before the summer.

We ask that you understand and support the pressures we are all under at this time. 

The Year 11 students have been amazingly resilient and are still working hard in their mock exams today, and we are immensely proud. This is not their last day...

We have lots of ideas how we will celebrate properly and in style. We will be in touch in the coming weeks with students. 

Students have been requested not to sign their school shirts until the end of the day as many of our students are in exams.