Life @ EA

10 September 2020

Dear Edinburgh Academy parents,

As we gradually return to something more akin to normality, I have already noticed just how quickly these weeks seem to be flying by and, before I know it, it’s time to write another News Sheet. After a gloriously sunny Saturday morning spent at New Field watching rugby and hockey practices, it was wonderful to listen to our coaches as they praised our students for their commitment, hard work and dedication. It is already that many are already looking forward to the resumption of competitive matches and indeed the Scottish Schools Cups in whatever form they may be once competition resumes. The Games Department are working hard to update our sports app ‘SOCS’ on which parents can find details of both training and competitive fixtures when they do start again. This is available on the school website by following the ‘chain’ icon at the top right-hand side of the page. Clicking on this LINK brings you to SOCS. It is also in the Senior School Games handbook, which can be found on the Parents’ page on Firefly by following the links through: Resources/ Parents /Senior School /Sports Handbook.

There is a wealth of information on these Parents’ pages which is always worth spending some time becoming familiar with. Obviously, Parents’ Evenings this term will certainly have to be different, with large social gatherings not being able to happen as yet. Details surrounding these Parents' Evenings are being finalised and further information will be out soon. The Senior School Parent Handbook also has details of the School Uniform Policy which is found on Page 20 of this handbook. As has been previously communicated, the Sixths' girls’ uniform will no longer be in use after the end of this academic Session and is no longer being sold from Aitken and Niven. Aitken and Niven have offered a full refund or replacement for any parent who was mistakenly sold a new Sixths skirt at the start of term. The Sixth Girls’ uniform is an Academy blue tailored jacket instead of the blazer and a grey skirt instead of a kilt. It is not a ‘mix and match’ uniform – students need both items to be correctly dressed. These items are being discontinued at the end of the year as they create further unnecessary expense for parents and are rarely worn appropriately. We have discussed the appropriate wearing of this uniform many times with our students and, once the Senior School returns to full school uniform on Monday 14th of September, we will have expectations that this uniform is worn appropriately by all. Should students continue to arrive in school in mixed dress or inappropriate clothing we will ask them to return home until such time as they are properly dressed.

Next week, we also hope to return to plate service in the Dining Hall and will trial this with our year group bubbles from Monday. I very much hope that a return to plate service will address the concerns about portion size that some of our senior students have made, despite there being frequent offers for these students to have seconds should they still be hungry.

We have recently begun Year Group assemblies whereby we are meeting each ‘Bubbled’ Year Group for an opportunity to discuss their ongoing school experience. The focus of these meetings for 5ths/ 6ths and 7ths will be on the SQA and GCSE/A-level exam board processes this year. As I write this News Sheet there has been no confirmed changes in any exam process for 2020/21. The SQA consultation process with schools across Scotland gathered 23,000 responses and we await the updated guidance from the SQA and the Scottish Government. Changes being discussed are course content, assessment schedules and indeed exam timetables for summer 2021, and so any changes will have a significant impact on the educational journey that our students are on in the senior years. We will look to update all parents of students in these exam years as soon as we get further details.

It is important to remind all parents about the guidance regarding Covid-19 and expectations in regard to how households should act if one member displays the three main symptoms of Covid-19.

Should a member of any household show the following symptoms:

• A new continuous cough and/or
• A fever/high temperature and/or
• A loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste

they should self-isolate and you should book them a test as soon as possible at this link HERE or by calling 0800 028 2816.

Parents should not send any children into school should someone in their household have signs of these symptoms.

As the Coronavirus Toolkit for Parents, document explains (which was sent to all parents) students are not to return until a negative test result is sent to the school. This is vital to safeguard our school population. Many thanks for your understanding.

Best wishes,

Barry Welsh
Rector