The Remote Curriculum
We endeavor to provide the same curriculum remotely as we would if all students were in school wherever possible and appropriate. There have been some necessary adaptations with regard to practical subjects that require specialist resources.
Students working remotely will follow their school timetable and receive the usual allocation of lessons. This equates to four lessons each day on the current COVID curriculum model.
Accessing Remote Education
We are using Google Meets for the delivery of live lessons and Google Classroom for the setting of work and related assessment and feedback.
We recognise that some students may not have suitable online access at home. We have supported as many of these students as we can to access remote education by issuing government provided laptops to enable them to access Google Classroom and Google Meets at home. If more laptops become available, we will issue further where the need is greatest.
Tutors are in regular contact with their tutees and will report any issues to Pastoral Leaders who will directly liaise with parents and carers.
Remote Teaching
We use a combination of the following approaches to teach students remotely:
- live teaching (online lessons via Google Meets)
- recorded teaching (e.g. video/audio recordings made by teachers)
- lesson by lesson work set via Google Classroom
- longer-term project work may occasionally be set for practical subjects.
Engagement
We expect full attendance and engagement from all students to ensure that there is no loss to learning during this period of school closure.
We systematically check students’ attendance and engagement with remote education. Where concerns exist, parents/carers are contacted by telephone or letter to alert them to our concerns.
We are aware of the pressures on young people with remote learning and we continue to offer well-being support.
Feedback
Feedback provides students with the opportunity to understand what they are doing well and identify any areas for improvement.
We are using a variety of feedback forms to encourage ongoing engagement, motivation and progress, including:
- whole-class feedback via Google Classroom
- low-stakes quizzes marked automatically using a range of digital platforms
- written comments via Google Classroom
- verbal feedback using Mote
- use of Fernwood Award Points to recognise effort and engagement.
- verbal in class feedback
Additional support for students with particular needs
We recognise that some students, for example students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) may not be able to access remote education without support from adults at home. We acknowledge the difficulties this may place on families, and we are working with parents and carers to support those students by maintaining regular Key Worker contact.
Remote education for self-isolating students
Where individual students need to self-isolate but the majority of their peer group remains in school, wherever possible access to the full curriculum will be provided. Students will be invited to join live lessons via Google Meets wherever possible and on the occasions where this isn’t possible, work will be set. This is due to the challenges of teaching students both at home and in school.
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