Don't forget to keep checking back to see what we've been up to!

• Do you have the passion to be a governor?

  Fri 09 Sep 2022

  WE NEED YOU!

   

  Have you always wanted to make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable but amazing young people within education?

   

  Do you have the passion and skills to work with a committed team of educators who never give up on our pupils even when others have?

   

  We are looking for new members to join our Governing Board and help continue the transformational work the federation has achieved.

   

  If you would like to discuss the role further, then please do not hesitate to contact me at the school.

   

  Isn't it time you unleashed your inner super hero?

  

• Roofing Issues

  Thu 01 Sep 2022

  Good afternoon all,

   

  We hope you have had a lovely Summer break and are ready for the term ahead.

   

  Over the Summer, King's Oak has had a lot of work done to the roof and other parts of the school. Unfortunately, the heavy rain we experienced last week caused some difficulties and two of our rooms are out of order for the next 3 weeks. Whilst this isn't ideal, we are working hard on ensuring that the start of the year will be as productive as we had originally planned.

   

  We wanted you to be aware of this before the start of the year, so you can understand and prepare your son that rooms may have different uses for the first few weeks, whilst we work with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Contractors and Insurance Firms to put the school back to where it should be.

   

  If you have any questions, then please do not hesitate to contact either Meic or Jill at the school.

   

  See you on Monday!

  As ever

  Meic and the King's Oak Team

• Hot Hot Hot!

  Sun 17 Jul 2022

  Dear Parent,

  The coming week is going to see temperatures soar to levels we have never seen in the UK and from which media sources you use, you are either excited for the chance of having weather that we usually travel abroad for or are anxious about how the temperature will effect you personally.

  As schools, we have received a lot of information over the weekend from the Government (DfE and Central Government), the Royal Borough of Greenwich as well as from teaching unions - all asking schools to provide very different responses - which contradict one another greatly.

  We have checked that Royal Borough of Greenwich school transport will be unaffected, but we have been alerted that TFL and train services are subject to either cancellation or modification (i.e. slower running due to the heat and its effects on the tracks) which may mean journeys will take longer than usual.

  From discussion with the Heads of School, the Governing Board and taking advice from trusted sources (as we did during the height of the COVID response) our plans are as follows :

  • both schools will be open up until (and including) Thursday as originally planned
  • school uniform across both schools is relaxed for the entire week - shorts, t shirts are expected and encouraged etc and this includes staff (if they wish)
  • sunscreen to be applied before school (we recommend in line with all cancer charities that it should be Factor 50) and please (if you wish) a labelled tube of sunscreen for your child  to reapply during the day. We are not allowed to put on sunscreen on  but will help guide them.
  • pupils are encouraged to wear a hat
  • we will be creating as much ventilation as possible
  • we will be offering unlimited access to water 
  • we will be offering ice lollies etc during the day
  • play/break times will be modified so that we try to avoid (as much as possible) the heat, and offering options to play inside, in shade etc.
  • we will be checking on each other for signs of difficulties due to heat

   

   

  You are of course as the parent, completely within your right to chose not to send  into school during the two predicted hottest days and keep them at home. If you choose to do this, we will automatically apply work to Google Classroom for them to undertake whilst at home and we will have to (as part of our duty of care and under safeguarding) check in on your via phone or video call.

   

  Throughout the day we need to keep an eye on each other for signs of dehydration:

  • if your urine is orange or dark in colour, you need to drink more water - we will need to remind children to check the colour of their urine throughout the day

  Signs of Heat Exhaustion include :

   

  • a headache
  • dizziness and confusion
  • loss of appetite and feeling sick
  • excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
  • cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
  • fast breathing or pulse
  • being very thirsty
  • high body temperature – a temperature of or above 40°C (104°F) is a major sign of heatstroke (if it doesn't go down when placed in the shade and after drinking water)
  • red, hot skin and sweating that then suddenly stops
  • fast heartbeat
  • fast shallow breathing
  • confusion/lack of co-ordination
  • fits
  • loss of consciousness

   

  Those of us who are also experiencing menopausal symptoms will need to ensure that you monitor your responses carefully - as some of the signs above can be confused with menopause. 

   

  All physical activity (PE etc) has to be reduced - no racing etc. so that we reduce the potential for heat exhaustion.

   

  Our risk assessment has been based on the Government's direction as well as by us giving you as parents, autonomy to keep your child at home during the next two days. We will monitor the situation constantly and if proved necessary, we will close the schools if we are unable to maintain the safety of ourselves and the children. 

• Help with Benefits and Energy Rebate Payments

  Thu 16 Jun 2022

  Dear parent,

   

  You will have seen via your media channels that the Government in England is offering support to families who are finding the cost of living and energy increases difficult.

   

  Face-to-face advice is available for Royal Greenwich residents at our outreach advice hubs.

  Participating organisations are Welfare Rights Service (for benefits advice), Citizens Advice (for debt and generalist advice), Plumstead Law Centre (for immigration advice) and Greenwich Housing Rights (for housing advice). 
   
  Advisers are also available to assist residents needing help to apply for the £150 or £65 Energy Rebate payment.

   

  If you need help to apply, please visit any of the advice hubs listed in the table below and bring with a copy of a bank statement so that it can be uploaded. This is drop-in support, so you can just turn up if they need help.

   

  Please do make use of this - so you are able to get what you are entitled to.

   

   

  Location	Date and time	Advice available
  The Forum, Trafalgar Road SE10 9EQ	Mondays   10am to 12 noon	Debt, housing and welfare benefits
  Migrant Hub - Woolwich Common Community Centre, Leslie Smith Square SE18 4DW	Tuesdays  10.30am to 1.30pm	Immigration, advocacy and housing
  St Mary’s Community Centre, Eltham High Street SE9 1BJ	Wednesdays  10am to 12 noon	Debt, housing and welfare benefits
  Thamesmead Moorings Sociable Club, Arnott Close SE28 8BG   *This hub is run by Peabody and funded by the GLA	Wednesdays  9.30am to 12.30pm	Housing and immigration advice
  Glyndon Community Centre, Raglan Road SE18 7LB	Thursdays  10am to 12 noon	Debt, housing and welfare benefits
  Woolwich Clockhouse Community Centre, Woolwich Dockyard SE18 5QL	Fridays   9.30am to 12 noon	Welfare benefits, housing and debt

• Tackling Child Abuse

  Wed 04 May 2022

  As a Federation we are strongly committed to this ... why not tap/click here to find out how you can be more aware.

  

• Living with COVID Plan - Our Response

  Tue 22 Feb 2022

  Dear parent/carer/guardian,

   

  I am certain you have caught up via all social media channels/TV on the Prime Minister's announcement regarding the 'Living with Covid' plan. The guidance we have received from the DfE isn't as clear as we would have hoped, so below is a summary of the changes for all of us outside of school from today and Thursday and what we will continue to do as a federation.

   

  From Today:

   

  • in all mainstream settings, twice weekly testing for pupils and staff stops
  • in all special settings, twice weekly testing for secondary pupils and staff continue
  • within the Imperium Federation, twice weekly testing for all staff (Waterside and King's Oak) and for pupils in King's Oak will continue until Easter 

   

  From Thursday:

  • anyone with COVID will no longer be legally required to self isolate
  • guidance remains in place for those to test positive to self isolate for 5 days
  • within the Imperium Federation, we will continue to self isolate for 5 days if test positive until Easter (staff and pupils)

   

  From April 1st:

  • COVID tests will no longer be free for the vast majority
  • COVID passports will cease to be required except for international travel
  • COVID no longer requires a risk assessment

   

  After discussion yesterday evening, we have decided to continue with our current measures until Easter...why?

   

  I am certain you will agree, that although recently we have had more cases than we had throughout the pandemic, we have - by focussing on mask wearing, hygiene etc managed to keep ourselves and our community safe. 

   

  We have enough LFT's to ensure that whoever needs to can test twice weekly - these will be given out this week. 

   

  We will continue to review this situation and take on board any further guidance received from either Government, PHE or our unions.

   

  I hope you can agree that this measured course of action seems prudent.

   

  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at school.

  As ever

  Meic and the King's Oak Team

• Moving from Plan B to Plan A - Prime Ministers Announcement

  Wed 19 Jan 2022

  Dear Parent,

  We received updates following the Prime Ministers announcement that England is going to move from Plan B to Plan A by January 27th.

   

  This means:

  • From today, face coverings in classes and teaching spaces are not longer needed, but ventilation and social distancing must continue. Face coverings are to continue in corridors and communal spaces.
  • From Thursday January 27th, face coverings are no longer required in any spaces within school, but ventilation and social distancing must continue.
  • The Government will no longer require staff in other sectors to work from home after January 27th.
  • Testing is to remain in place as it has done for us throughout.
  •  

  As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will remain cautious in response to these announcements. 

   

  As such, the following will remain:

  • enhanced cleaning to continue at both sites
  • fogging to be used where cases have risen
  • twice weekly testing to be done by all staff and pupils (KS3 and 4) - if we have a rise in cases, as before, we will move to daily testing
  • if your son  wishes to wear a face covering in class, communal areas etc outside of the guidance, he is free to do so. 
  • if your son feels he is not in a position to socially distance, then we would strongly recommend he continues to wear a face covering
  • ventilation, hygiene protocols to remain in place
  • visitor policy to remain in place
  •  

  There have been no transport changes (school) announced, so at present, if he uses either school provided transport or TfL transport to come to school, a face covering must still be worn.

   

  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

  As ever

  Meic and the King's Oak Team

• Young Greenwich Partnership

  Thu 06 Jan 2022

  Dear Parent ,

  Hope this finds you well (it's been particularly chilly today)!

  We have been contacted by the Greenwich Youth Partnership and have been asked to send out what their services can offer you and your child .

  You can find a link to the Young Greenwich Partnership here and the link to the Parental Service here.

  Attached to this message are flyers in case you have difficulties with the links. We have also posted these on Twitter and our website.

  If we can help in anyway with you accessing the services offered, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  As ever

  Meic and the King's Oak Team

• Covid 19 Update in line with the Prime Minister's Speech on Saturday

  Mon 29 Nov 2021

  Good morning, I do hope this finds you well.

   

  As you are well aware, as a school, we have done everything we can to reduce the potential for infection with COVID-19 with a great deal of success. Unlike some of our colleagues, we have maintained our interval cleaning, maintained hand hygiene and with your help, have reduced the potential of other types of infection by monitoring our pupils sickness closely.

   

  You will have seen that the Prime Minister gave a speech on Saturday evening regarding the new variant and the measures the Government need us all to take. With rates of infection increasing in and around Greenwich it is vital that we all pull together so that we can keep each other healthy.

   

  From today, all pupils travelling on school or public transport are required to wear a face covering at all times. 

   

  Your son will also need to wear his face covering in corridors or whilst in class.

   

  We will be restricting access to essential visitors only and they will be expected to wear a face covering at all times.

   

  In January - on the first day back, the Government are requiring all who work in education to take an LFT before arrival. We will send home testing kits during the last week of term. It is vital that you record the test result on the twice weekly form that we already send out.

   

  We will continue with our hygiene methods and monitor any recorded infections closely and already have plans in place (as we had earlier in the year) to maintain education and work with our partners in Public Health.

   

  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

   

  Let's do all we can to keep each other safe and well!

  As ever

  Meic and the team

• Equity and Equality Charter

  Thu 30 Sep 2021

  We've signed up to this ... why not read through and see how you can improve your understanding of equality.