John Willmott School launches remote learning video

The headteacher of a Sutton school has spoken about the learning journey staff and students have been through during the pandemic – as the school launched an impressive video explaining its remote learning provision.

John Willmott School headteacher Tracy Peters said: “People often refer to being lifelong learners, the last year has shown just how important and significant that is.

“No one would have thought a year ago that we would have had to adapt the way we teach in so many ways, or that students would have spent significant amounts of time at home learning independently.”

Mrs Peters said that the school, which is part of the respected Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, had responded to the challenges of the pandemic by creating innovative and valuable ways to communicate with our students and their families.

“At John Willmott School we have used our understanding of how students learn to ensure that our strong ‘in school’ teaching and learning model has continued while students have been learning remotely,” she said.

“We have developed our provision over the year to ensure that we have a high-quality model that includes face-to-face teaching, live lessons and pre-recorded delivery. This includes new and different methods for assessment and feedback to support student’s understanding and progression.”

The headteacher added that supporting students with their well-being was of equal importance, with special online events being organised and form tutors staying in direct touch with students and their families.

She said: “This has included regular pre-recorded assemblies on our YouTube channel, live year group assemblies with leadership, Heads of Year and form tutors, and competitions led by our Heads of House.

“Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and our weekly well-being calls home from form tutors has contributed to our students and their families feeling supported through these unusual times.

“We recognise that while the circumstances have been challenging there are many positives to be gained from what we have learnt and developed over this time.”

Now, as the school in Reddicap Heath Road prepares to reopen, it has launched an impressive video explaining its ongoing remote learning provision.

“Our remote learning provision will remain for some time as we adjust to the return to school,” Mrs Peters said.

“Some students may still continue to spend time at home and will need to access their learning remotely.

“We now have established ways of supporting these students that simply did not exist before. We look forward to welcoming our students back to school.”