REPTON WINS NATIONAL REMOTE LEARNING AWARD
Repton 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 we are so proud to have been singled out of all of the schools, colleges and academies in the UK for our impressive approach to remote learning in the first award of its kind.
Judges highlighted how strong Repton’s pastoral care had been throughout Remote Learning, with our pupil wellbeing survey (January 2021) confirming that 96% of pupils reported either no or very low levels of anxiety as a result of home schooling. Repton’s 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 Repton delivered an enriching timetable, sensitive to the needs of each of our pupils 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 Repton’s 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, Societies, House challenges and even an online International Universities evening with speakers from leading seats of learning in the US, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe.
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.”
During Remote Learning Reptonians 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, Repton was 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 the LACA School Chef of the Year Awards, as well as being shortlisted for The Independent School of the Year Response to Covid 19 Award, the results of which will be announced in October.