To all parents and carers.

After assessing likely staff absence based on today's Industrial action, I can confirm that school will be open for students in Year 11 only tomorrow, 16th March. Students in all other Year Groups will have lessons set on Microsoft Teams, where teachers are in school

Students in Year 11 should arrive no earlier than 8-50am tomorrow and will register in their Period 1 lessons, at 9am. All other arrangements for Year 11 students will be as today.

School will re-open to all students on Friday 17th March.

Thank you for your continued support.

J. Wilding
Headteacher

Mr Wilding has sent out a message to all parents and carers regarding planned strike action by the National Education Union (NEU) on 15th/16th March 2023.

To all parents and carers,

NEU Industrial Action – Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March

You will no doubt be aware of proposed Industrial Action being taken by the NEU, on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March. These dates follow two previous days of Industrial Action by the NEU, on 1st February and 1st March

As this action looks likely to go ahead, I would like to provide parents, carers and students with as much notice as possible of our plans as a school for these days, as I have done in the past.

Wednesday 15th March

School will be open on Wednesday 15th March for students in Year 11 and Year 13 only. Where teachers are in school, lessons for Year 11 and Year 13 will run as normal. Where teachers are not in school, students will be supervised to complete classwork, or revision, as was the case on 1st February.

Students in all other Year Groups will have lessons set on Microsoft Teams, where teachers are in school, with arrangements being as they were on 1st February.

In addition to students in Year 11 and Year 13, a small number of our most vulnerable students will also be contacted individually and invited to be in school.

Students eligible for Free School Meals can attend school between 1-20pm and 2-00pm, where a meal will be available for them in the Main Dining Hall.

Thursday 16th March

Current indications of staff absence mean that it is likely only Year 11 students will be able to attend school on Thursday 16th March. If this is the case, arrangements will be as above, for all other Year Groups.

As on 15th March, a small number of our most vulnerable students will also be contacted individually and invited to be in school.

As arrangements for both days are subject to potential change, I will contact all parents and carers on 14th March to confirm arrangements for 15th March, and on 15th March to confirm arrangements for 16th March.

As we have done on both of the previous days of NEU Industrial Action this term, we have looked closely at likely staffing levels for 15th and 16th March, before making a decision on which students we feel we can safely have on site. In making the decision to have Year 11 and Year 13 on site on Wednesday 15th March and Year 11 only on 16th March, we have looked at all available options and chosen to prioritise those students with exams this summer, as well as our most vulnerable students.

I fully understand the frustration some parents and carers will be feeling about their children not being able to attend school on these days, but I would like to thank all parents and carers, once again, for your continued understanding and support.

Yours sincerely, 

J. Wilding
Headteacher

School will be open as normal on Friday 10th March. Parents should monitor emails and the school social media platforms for updates.

Good morning, from LCS.

School will be open as normal again today.

There is snow on site, but the forecast is for weather to clear by mid morning.

If this is not the case and we have further snowfall, we may adjust the timings of the school day, as we did yesterday.

Please check for updates via email and social media throughout this morning.

Due to the weather conditions, we will not be enforcing rules over footwear today and students wishing to wear an alternative to their usual school shoes can do so.

Thank you.

J. Wilding
Headteacher

Mr Wilding has sent an update to parents and carers regarding snow on the school site. School will finish today at 2:45pm for all students.

To all parents/carers.

We have had increased snowfall around the school site in the last 2 hours. The school site remains fully accessible and all paths and access roads are clear.
For the safety of all students and staff, we will have a shorter lunch break today and school will finish slightly earlier than normal.

School will finish at 2:45pm today for all students.

Please also be aware of the following:

• All detentions after school today will not take place and will be rearranged.
• All sports fixtures and extra-curricular clubs will be cancelled.
• The school bus is planning to arrive at normal time of 3:30pm and any students needing the bus will be able to wait in the school building until it arrives.

Please continue to check updates on email and social media for any information related to school opening tomorrow. As things stand, school will be open, but we may adapt timings as we have done today.

Confirmation of school opening will be sent via email and social media, before 7:30am tomorrow.

Thank you.

J. Wilding
Headteacher

LCS has a vacancy for the position of: Sixth Form Study Supervisor / Administration Assistant.

For more information please see the Job Vacancies Page.

Mr Wilding has issued an update to parents and carers regarding safeguarding, medical information and links to exciting opportunities for students.

Good morning from LCS.   

My update this week includes important safeguarding and medical information, as well as links to exciting opportunities for students, both in school and through our local partners.  

I hope you find the information included in this update useful.  

A message from our Designated safeguarding Lead, Ms Jenkins

We have been asked to share the information below with all parents and carers, on behalf of the Children's Society:  

Across the country, young people are being manipulated, sexually abused, forced to launder money and deal drugs. Exploitation isn't obvious, but it happens everywhere and can happen to anyone.

For parents and carers, it is often difficult to spot the signs or know what to do. On this website, you can find information around the signs of exploitation and how you can report and get advice to help protect your child. 

LookCloser To Spot Exploitation | The Children's Society (childrenssociety.org.uk)    

The Children's Society social media sites:

• Twitter @childrensociety and @TCSImpact
• Facebook @childrenssociety  
• Instagram @thechildrenssociety  
• LinkedIn - The Children's Society

Further, general safeguarding information and advice can be found on our Safeguarding Page.

A message from Ms McSkimming (School Medical Officer)  

For parents/carers of students using Epipens and/or Asthma inhalers in school, please ensure your child has their Epipen and/or Asthma inhaler with them at all times. This includes keeping them close by when in a lesson where their bags are not immediately accessible, e.g. PE and Drama.

A reminder that students should not carry medication routinely with them in school. Any medication being brought into school requires completion of an 'Administration of Medications in School' form.

Completed forms should be returned to Ms A McSkimming, Medical Officer.  

Derby University Saturday Club  

Derby University (in conjunction with other partners) are running the  National Saturday Club, from Saturday 4 th  March . This is part of a successful and exciting national scheme and is the first of its kind in Derby. They are seeking creative and artistic students to explore the theme ' Society and Change '.  The project is open to students aged 13 to 16 who have interest in either Art, Music and writing and there will be many opportunities for making and showcasing their work.     
   
Those who are selected will be tutored by specialists with industry related experience. These sessions will take place at Pride Park and Art Core gallery.  The club will also provide opportunities over and above the 3-hour weekly sessions on a Saturday morning, a pop-up exhibition at the University of Derby, podcasting and showcase at a Derby County Home game (and tickets to the match). There will also be a trip to London to have a certificated ceremony for participation, with an exhibition of work at Summerset House.    

This is a 15-week programme starting on the 4 th  March and is free of charge. More details, including information about the aims of the National Saturday Club, and how to sign up, are available on the following link  https://saturday-club.org/club/university-of-derby/  

You will also find links to this information on our school Twitter and Facebook sites.  

Updated School Clubs and extra-curricular activities  

We have updated our list of available clubs and activities for students during and before/after the school day.

The updated list can be found at LCS Clubs and Extra Curricular Activities.

Thank you for your continued support of our school, our students and our staff. 

Keep safe.  

J. Wilding
Headteacher

Derby University (in conjunction with other partners) are running the National Saturday Club, from Saturday 4th March. This is part of a successful and exciting national scheme and is the first of its kind in Derby. They are seeking creative and artistic students to explore the theme 'Society and Change'. The project is open to students aged 13 to 16 who have interest in either Art, Music and writing and there will be many opportunities for making and showcasing their work.

Those who are selected will be tutored by specialists with industry related experience. These sessions will take place at Pride Park and Art Core gallery. The club will also provide opportunities over and above the 3-hour weekly sessions on a Saturday morning, a pop-up exhibition at the University of Derby, podcasting and showcase at a Derby County Home game (and tickets to the match). There will also be a trip to London to have a certificated ceremony for participation, with an exhibition of work at Summerset House.

This is a 15-week programme starting on the 4th March and is free of charge. More details, including information about the aims of the National Saturday Club, and how to sign up, are available on the following link https://saturday-club.org/club/university-of-derby/.

Mr Wilding has sent out a message to all parents and carers regarding planned strike action by the National Education Union (NEU) on 1st March 2023.

To all parents and carers,

You will be aware that the NEU have called a second strike, to take place on 1st March.

As with the strike action on 1st February, I want to give parents/carers as much notice as possible of the implications of this strike for the opening of school and to help parents/carers plan childcare.

Our current plans could change and I will inform you all at the start of next half-term if this is the case.

Following our experience of 1st February, I feel we can safely open school on 1st March to Year 11 and Year 13 students only.

The numbers of staff likely to be absent means we cannot have all students on site and by having Year 11 and Year 13 in school, we are prioritising the students with exams this summer.

Year 11 and Year 13 students

School will start at 9am and students should go straight to Period 1 classrooms, where they will be registered. Students will be allowed on site from 8-50am; students should not arrive to school before this time.

Lessons for students in Year 11 and Year 13 will run as normal, if teachers are in school.

Where teachers are absent, Year 11 will work on revision tasks and Year 13 will work as they usually would for IS. All lesson times are the same as normal and school will end at 3-00pm.

Food will be available for students at break and lunch time as normal, in the main school Dining Hall. Mr Archer will communicate further information to parents/carers and students in Year 13.

Students in Years 7-10 and Year 12

Lessons will be set remotely on Teams, as they were on 1st February.

Teachers will set lessons on Teams by 8-50am on the morning of 1st March and students should log in to lessons at the normal start times. Teachers who have Year 11 and/or Year 13 classes in school may be a few minutes late to starting lessons on Teams for other Year Groups.

Where teachers are absent and lessons are not set on Teams, students should access work from resources shared previously, on 1st February.

Arrangements for students eligible for Free School Meals will be the same as on 1st February. Food will be available during the normal school lunchtime, from 1-20pm to 2-00pm; students coming to school for lunch should enter via the Pastures Hill entrance.

A small number of our most vulnerable students will also be invited to attend school on 1st March. Our SENDCO and/or DSL will make contact with parents/carers of these students individually.

Separate decisions will be made about whether school can open on 15th and 16th March, if these further planned strikes go ahead. I feel it is fair to make parents/carers aware now, however, that school would not be able to open for more than one or two Year Groups, at most, if staff absence remains as expected for any future strike days.

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely, 

J. Wilding
Headteacher