FAQs: Remote Education

Q: What is taught to students at home?

We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in the academy wherever possible and appropriate. However, there will be adaptations in some practical subjects with suitable alternative work provided. Our Curriculum Overview documents can be accessed by clicking on the individual subjects in the list below:
Art and Design Technology ♦ Applied Transdisciplinary Learning ♦ Business and Enterprise ♦ Drama ♦ English ♦ Geography ♦ History ♦ Mathematics ♦ Media and Photography ♦ Modern Foreign Languages ♦ Music ♦ Physical Education ♦ Psychology ♦ Science ♦ Sociology

Q: How long can I expect work set by the academy to take my child each day?

Teachers set remote learning that is of equivalent quantity to that which they would receive in the academy (5 hours), in line with the Department for Education guidance for Key Stage 3 and 4.

Q: How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?

Lesson materials, resources, videos, links to other platforms and feedback will be delivered through Google Classrooms for all years.

Q: If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?

We recognise that some students may not have suitable online access at home. We are working hard to ensure that all have access to the internet and a device. If your child is without access and you need our support, then please contact your child’s Head of Year here.

Q: How will my child be taught remotely?

We use a combination of the following approaches to teach students remotely including:

• Live lessons/tutorials for all year groups (including pastoral tutor sessions)
• Pre-recorded lessons
• Adapted teaching resources with explanations and tasks
• Textbooks and booklets students have at home
• Knowledge organisers and self-quizzing for retrieval practice
• Commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences

Q: What are your expectations for my child’s engagement?

We expect:

• Students to engage in learning across the full range of subjects for the timetabled time, each day and as a minimum work for the equivalent time as they would in school (5 hours).
• Students to endeavour to meet assignment deadlines and to submit work through Google Classrooms daily
• Students to contact their subject teacher if they have any questions or need support with the work
• Students to follow the academy behaviour policy

Q: How can we as parents and carers support our children at home?

Ensure that:

• Your child has a quiet space where they can work
• Your child is ready and dressed for the start of the school day
• Your child follows their academy timetable as far as is possible
• Your child submits their work each day

Q: How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work – and how will I be informed if there are concerns?

In line with the Department for Education guidance, teachers will check your child’s engagement with remote education daily. This can be monitored through assignment submission on Google Classroom. Teachers will contact parents and carers, where students have not completed and submitted their work.

We will contact parents immediately where there is a safeguarding concern.

Q: How will you assess my child’s work and progress?

Feedback can take many forms and often does not involve extensive written comments for individual children. For example, whole-class feedback or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms are also valid and effective methods, amongst many others.

Our approach to feeding back on student work is as follows:

• Teachers will provide whole-class feedback through Google Classroom (weekly for core subjects, fortnightly for foundation subjects)
• Automated feedback from digital platforms/quizzes at least weekly or all year groups
• Verbal and whole-class feedback during live lessons
• Individual feedback as and when appropriate via private comments on Google Classroom
• Group feedback via the ‘stream’ on Google Classroom

The academy’s assessment policy and cycle will be followed, which will support teachers to report students’ progress to parents/carers.

Q: If my child is not in the academy because they are self-isolating, how will their remote education differ from the approaches described above?

Where individual students need to self-isolate but the majority of their peer group remains in academy, how remote education is provided will differ slightly from the approach for whole groups. This is due to the challenges of teaching students both at home and in academy.

Full remote education will be offered, although it may not be possible to deliver the same number of pre-recorded lessons, and those students self-isolating will follow the same curriculum as students in the academy.

Q: Where can I find further information or support?

You can find further information in this section of the website, including here in Frequently Asked Questions, in links to letters and guidance previously sent home.

If you are unable to find the answer on the website, please contact your child’s Head of Year.

Q: How will you work with me to help my child who needs additional support from adults at home to access remote education?

We recognise that some students, for example some students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), may not be able to access remote education without support from adults at home. We acknowledge the difficulties this may place on families, and we will work with parents and carers to support those students.

Staff have been provided with clear guidance on how to best support students with SEND and ensure that remote learning is accessible.

Any families requiring further support or guidance should contact Magna Academy’s SENCO.