Dear Parents and Carers.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the QEGS community for their support during the last few months. This has certainly not been the academic year that we planned and we realise that what we have all gone through, and continue to go through, will have a lasting effect for many years. However, the QEGS community has remained strong in its support and we will continue to do this in the future, meeting each challenge as it arises.
We are currently making plans for an August/September return. As I am sure you can appreciate, guidance is constantly changing and it is imperative that the plans school make fit the evidence that is available at the time and therefore we will be releasing this information over the summer break. Currently plans are to begin the new academic years for EYFS, Year 6, Year 7, Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 on Thursday August 27th and Friday August 28th. School would then be closed to pupils and students on Tuesday 1st September and Wednesday 2nd September for INSET days and all pupils and students will then return full time to school from Thursday 3rd September. We will announce plans via the website, social media and email in the normal way but we are asking parents and carers to look out for these announcements.
I would like to inform you of some staffing changes from 1st September 2020.
Miss Miranda Wild, Teacher of English will be leaving at the end of this term. Miss Wild has been teaching at Queen Elizabeth’s since September 2019 and she is leaving to take up a post at a school closer to her family. In her short time with us she has been an exemplary member of staff and she was fully committed to ensuring that the pupils and students her care received high quality teaching and supportive pastoral care. I wish her every success in her new post. I am delighted that I have been able to appoint a very enthusiastic teacher of English to replace Miss Wild. Miss Sugra Rawoot will be joining the School in September and I am very much looking forward to working with her.
Miss Rebecca Brookes, Primary Phase teacher, will be leaving us at the end of this term in order to take up a new post as a Teacher of Drama and Music. Miss Brookes has been a valued member of staff in her short time with us and I wish her every success with this exciting opportunity.
We will be welcoming Miss Leah Holden and Miss Emily Harris from September 2020, both talented graduates, to work in our Primary Phase.
Miss Penny Fox, Primary Phase teacher, will be leaving us at the end of this term in order to take up another post at a school closer to her home. Miss Fox has been an enthusiastic teacher in the three years she has been with us and her contributions will be greatly missed. I wish her every success in her new post. I have appointed Miss Caryn Ryan, an experienced Primary Phase teacher, from September 2020 and I am looking forward to working with her.
Mr John Garrett, Part Time Teacher of Music, will be leaving us at the end of this term to take up a post at a primary school however, we are delighted that he will still be working with us as a peripatetic teacher alongside assisting with the choir. I would like to thank him for all his contributions during his time at the School. I am delighted to have appointed Mrs Marianna Edwards, an experienced Teacher of Music from September 2020 and I am very much looking forward to working with her.
Mrs Sue Martin, Teacher of Mathematics, is leaving us at the end of this term to take up a promoted post in a local school. Mrs Martin has been at the school for four years and I would like to thank her for her support of school and the wonderful education she has provided. I am delighted to welcome permanently back to school on a full time basis Mrs Jenny Mercado, from September 2020.
We will also be welcoming back Mrs Shakila Afzal, part time Teacher of Mathematics, from her maternity leave.
Mr Malcolm Russell, part time Teacher of Mathematics, is leaving at the end of this academic year in order to take retirement. Mr Russell has been at the school thirty-two years and in this time he has been an extremely dedicated member of staff. He has held several different pastoral roles during his time at QEGS and he has always fulfilled these roles in an exemplary fashion. He truly is an outstanding teacher and a true gentleman. Mr Russell is always kind, approachable and fair, and he has always gone the extra mile to ensure that pupils and students are fully supported and that they make progress. His wise words of wisdom have been appreciated by so many teachers, pupils and students over the years and he has always provided high quality teaching. He is a valued colleague who always gives a measured and considered opinion and he will be missed. I wish him every happiness for his retirement.
I realise that staffing changes and the current situation is unsettling but please be assured that School will do its best to make these changes and adaptions as smooth as possible.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very restful summer break and invite you to watch a video we have shared, with a final few words from myself as we finish the 2019/20 academic year.
Kind regards,
Mrs CY Gammon