Live Remote Learning Is Proving A Success With Everyone Involved

A Somercotes Academy student takes part in online remote learning at home via Microsoft Teams.

Student engagement and parental support of its online remote learning has been praised by Somercotes Academy Principal, Frances Green.

Major investment at the Academy has ensured that teachers can build upon the remote learning they were offering when students were absent self-isolating last term. This has ensured that all students now learning at home during the UK’s full lockdown can continue with their normal timetable. Teachers are teaching live lessons directly into students’ homes via Microsoft Teams.

Frances Green said: “In the first week of using Teams, over 90% of our students engaged with the system. Regular attendance continues to be high with students accessing their daily tutor time, normal timetables and assemblies virtually.

She continued: “Parents have been very positive about the provision, with one emailing to thank the Academy ‘for keeping things as normal as possible,’ and another saying: ‘Both of my children attend Somercotes Academy and the school has been fantastic with remote learning. The kids are ready and sat at their desks by 9am every weekday and are able to engage with the lessons that run all day. I cannot praise the teachers enough as I know it can’t be an easy task to do what they are doing’.“

One Year 7 student said: “I have enjoyed being able to stay in contact with my teachers. It’s great that there has been no interruption to my learning.”

Frances added: “I want to say a very big thank you to all of the staff for embracing online learning and delivering quality lessons to our students five days a week. I also wish to thank the students and their parents and carers for throwing themselves wholeheartedly into this new way of learning, which ensures that we can continue to educate them during this pandemic.

“Somercotes Academy will continue to support all of its students and to provide the very best learning possible throughout lockdown.”