Dear Year 11 students,

We hope that you are all safe and well.

It is strange to think that your GCSE exams would be finishing this week and, instead, you are at home, already studying for Year 12.

We think about how you would be preparing busily with your teachers for your final exams, and how we would be celebrating with you at the prom, and saying our farewells, as you reach the end of your journey with us at Manor High School. Sadly, we cannot do this.

We are immensely proud of each and every one of you, and you deserve to fully celebrate your hard work, friendships and achievements. Therefore, as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so, we are determined to give you this opportunity.

In this newsletter, we hope to reassure you with some updates of how we plan to do this, and provide other information and support, as we know you may have some questions, particularly around how and when your GCSE grades will be awarded this year, and what you should focus on now.

Please remember that we are all still here to support you. If there is anything that you need, or if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your teachers. We have a dedicated area for any updates on our website, it can be found on the Quicklinks tab on our homepage.

Although you are not in our classrooms, you are still very much in our thoughts as you manage this uncertain time and take your next steps.

How will we award GCSE grades this year?

We understand that you may be anxious or have questions about your GCSE results, particularly in these exceptional circumstances.

This year, the school will provide you with Centre Assessed Grades, since you cannot sit your exams and be externally assessed. We have given this process a great deal of time and attention, so that you are each awarded the most accurate grades possible.

We have sought expert advice from leading people and bodies, such as the Association of School and College Leaders and Partners in Excellence, using their professional guidance to set out our plans. Please see the flow chart below, which summarises how we have reached our conclusions and worked together as a team of staff to ensure the process of determining your grades is rigorous, fair and robust.

You can view the flow chart and table to show the process here.

What’s happening with the prom?

We promised we would make this happen.

We have been in touch with our Year 11 Prom Committee. They previously advised us they would still like a Year 11 Prom and we are very happy to support them in arranging this. The Prom was due to be held at the Mercure Grand Hotel in Leicester this month.

If it is not possible to celebrate at the start of next academic year due to health and safety reasons, it may be more appropriate to call our Prom a 'Manor High School Reunion' instead, which we would plan to take place later on in the year, and hope to make just as special.

We would like to stay in touch with the Prom Committee so that your preferences can be shared with us, and a suitable, special event is held in honour of your six year journey at the school.

We will, of course, keep you updated in regards to this event and send more information about a new date and ticket prices when appropriate, via our social media pages and email to your parents and carers.

Many of you will be thinking ahead to exciting new adventures. You will also be exploring the courses you have chosen to take next year by completing useful transition work. We fully support and encourage you to focus on this.

Colleges have shared useful activities through their websites, social media feeds and via email.

For those of you embarking upon studies at Wyggeston Queen Elizabeth and Regent, for instance, you should by now have been contacted with information and links. They are also provided here. Parents have access to this and can have a look, too, should they wish to gain additional support. 

Your teachers at Manor High are happy to support you with this, too, so if there is anything you are unsure about, do not hesitate to ask your subject teachers.  We are able to provide additional transition work for a range of subjects, if you are looking for more or currently do not have any transition work to complete.

You may be taking subjects that you have not studied before. Email us if you would like support with your course or apprenticeship, but don’t know who to contact. We will put you in touch with the right person.

My college application: Do I need to do anything further with this?

Remember that you must accept your conditional offer via PS16, so that your post-16 provider is aware that you intend to join them next year. 

Please let your House Manager know if you have been offered and accepted a place at a post-16 provider for September, so that we can support your transition and keep a record of your next steps.

Click on the relevant house below to email them.

Bradgate - Miss Booth

Clarendon - Mrs Wale

Knighton - Mrs Ghani

Watermead - Mr King

Additional support for parents

The following websites may be useful if you are looking to support your child further with the school closure, work experience, apprenticeships, or their choices for next year:

https://www.theparentsguideto.co.uk/support

https://careermap.co.uk/careermag-parents/