OUR REMOTE LEARNING PROVISION WINS NATIONAL AWARD
Our Through-School Approach To Home Schooling Has Won The Education Business Award For Outstanding Remote Learning Provision During The COVID 19 Pandemic.
The Education Business Awards has pioneered the recognition of school achievements for over 20 years, reporting on thousands of school success stories, which is why Repton is so proud to have been singled out of all of the schools, colleges and academies in the UK for its impressive approach to remote learning in the first award of its kind.
Judges highlighted how strong our pastoral care had been throughout Remote Learning, with their pupil wellbeing survey (January 2021) confirming that 96% of Reptonians reported either no or very low levels of anxiety as a result of home schooling. Our balanced approach to providing a rounded education was the driving force behind the school’s desire to deliver more than just digitised lessons – throughout the pandemic we have delivered an enriching timetable, sensitive to the needs of each pupil that kept our whole community connected.
The COVID 19 pandemic placed a huge burden on schools to continue to provide education to the nation’s children in unprecedented circumstances and as a result of our new IT system as well as a herculean collective effort by staff throughout the school, Reptonians didn’t miss a single day of learning. Added to this, the school’s tutors, teachers, coaches and support staff continued to provide a co-curricular programme, which included sports coaching, musical recitals, dramatic productions and House challenges.
Repton Headmaster, Mark Semmence, reacted to the award by saying: “We are absolutely delighted that our through-school Remote Learning provision is recognised as industry leading. It is a clear demonstration of the strength of the Repton community; that we could adapt so quickly and effectively delivering not just outstanding education but also pastoral care, co-curricular enrichment and the all-important House spirit to our pupils all over the world. We place enormous value on providing a balanced education and remained committed to this even during the most challenging times.”
Prep Headmaster Robert Relton added: "The attitude the prep children showed to Remote Learning was exemplary; they continued to make the most of every opportunity presented to them and the standard of work - from DT projects to musical recitals; mastering their times tables to being fully immersed in our virtual Sports Day - was inspiring. We are all immensely proud of every Repton Prep pupil and this award reflects the level of energy our whole community invested into Remote Learning."
During Remote Learning pupils were encouraged to look up and out; outreach work in their own local communities was the result, with home-cooked meals shared with people who were lonely and isolated, outdoor musical performances with live and virtual elements and birthday cards made for elderly local residents.
Mr Semmence explained how such a dynamic programme was introduced at pace: “Communication with parents, pupils and staff was at the heart of keeping our School spirit strong and pupils’ learning on track. We presented a clear way forward and remained committed to providing uninterrupted live lessons for every pupil. Our staff, pupils and parents worked as a team to enable this to happen with a shared, genuine desire to remain connected. Every decision made was taken in the context of how it impacted the wellbeing of our pupils and throughout Repton we have seen how much our community values learning.”
As well as winning the Remote Learning Award, we were shortlisted for the Education Business ICT Innovation Award, recognising the educational establishment that demonstrated innovation in its approach to teaching and deploying information and communication technologies that further the learning experience of its pupils.
2021 has also seen Repton reach the finals in two categories in the Times Educational Supplement Independent School Awards and our Head Chef, Marcin Hondurek reach the regional finals of the LACA School Chef of the Year Awards. We have also being shortlisted for The Independent School of the Year Response to Covid 19 Award, the results of which will be announced in October.