Despite the challenges of last half term it has been so encouraging to receive so many emails and letters expressing deep gratitude to all the staff at the school for keeping school as normal as possible in these difficult times. Here are just a couple more examples received last week:

Good afternoon Mr Turner,

I’ve just read your latest newsletter with interest, I can’t imagine how exhausted the staff must be to have worked through lockdown and to be continuing to teach and keep our children safe. It’s amazing to read what’s been achieved and I know my children appreciate the work that goes in – even with the one way system making things a bit longer I’ve explained that it’s there for a reason – to keep you all safe! I have two children at the school, Year 7 and Year 8, and I can’t thank the school enough for keeping going and the care my daughter and son have received when they joined, when they have been unwell and more recently for my daughter when Mrs Smart had to tell her she was in contact with someone who tested positive with COVID, certainly not a nice task for anyone. You certainly have my family’s support however the school decides to do things, whatever route you take we know it will be the right one for the children.

Thank you
KS3 Parent

Dear Mr Turner,

I would just like to express my immense gratitude to you and your hardworking and dedicated team at Bushey Meads. The task of ensuring that the premise and procedures put in place to ensure the children’s safety during the Covid crisis, must be a huge undertaking. I can only guess at the pressure you and your team are under to ensure everyone is safe and that the children are able to access their learning as best as possible, in these trying times. I am thankful that both my children (in Year 11 and 13) have been able to attend school as much as possible since September. My son had a period of quarantine, I was telephoned and asked to collect him by one of your lovely staff who kindly and clearly explained the procedure. When I collected him, I shared a brief chat with one of your reception staff and another parent in the same situation regarding the rules regarding isolation and duly took him home. It is after all, a situation that is indicative of Covid safety measures and no-one’s fault. I have always found everyone I have dealt with at BMS over the years, to be polite, professional and caring. I just wanted to express my support for all BMS staff but particularly the front line staff in this situation. They deserve the same respect that they give. Mr Searle’s recent article in BMS news expressed so well, how everyone at the school is clearly doing their utmost to ensure that the children benefit from being back at school whilst staying safe. You will always get differences in opinions; some people want a whole school or year-group closure every time there is a positive case, but enough of us really don’t. I want my children in school, learning and being in a supportive social environment during these uncertain times. So again, thank you to all at Bushey Meads for your relentless hard work and vision, enabling the school to remain open to the greatest number of students without compromising safety. Your efforts really are appreciated. I have every faith in the school.

Kind regards
KS4 and 5 Parent