Staff at Read were all hands-on deck as soon as lockdown set in. Not content to set pupils unguided tasks, Read’s teachers immediately became acquainted with all Google Classroom has to offer, and rolled out structured yet fun days to continue to engage pupils with their subjects.

Despite the disruption of the pandemic, Read kept going magnificently: “We were amazed at how quickly the school got Google Classroom up and running, and how well the teachers embraced it. Well done all!” (Parent survey, Sept 2020)

Read hitched up their sleeves and applied their second-to-none teaching practices to remote learning. Should a second wave send pupils home again - and Read is less at risk of this than most schools with large classrooms, small class sizes and rolling countryside – they are ready and confident with a tried and tested best practice remote learning package.

Read offered fresh remote content from taster A-Level Psychology sessions for Year 11 pupils to ‘Learn a Language in Lockdown’ for pupils and parents (including beginners’ Mandarin) to online, family Knit & Natter sessions.

Read’s 99% pass rate at GCSE, and 100% at A Level, demonstrated how pupils’ study patterns were hardly disrupted, with their commitment to high quality online learning. This led to A-Level pupils obtaining their first choices of university, including four in the Russell Group.

Read also enlivened a dreary lockdown summer with a wonderful enrichment programme including Languages (French & Mandarin), Drama (Musical in a Week) and Sport (rounders and football) camps, alongside historical and beachside days out.

“People can have misconceptions of independent schools; come for a visit and you’ll see for yourself that we are welcoming and down-to-earth whilst focusing on a wonderful, rounded education for your child.”

Small class sizes, acres of sports fields, subject-specialist teachers combined with the award-winning (Pru) Leith’s cookery course and the option to join the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) are a few highlights, plus the brand new BTEC in Health & Social Care!”.

Sadly, many state schools will struggle to provide structured and stimulating remote learning in further lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, and social distancing is challenging in classes sizes of 30. At Read, many classes have ten or less, allowing for bespoke, targeted teaching and learning in a family-feel school environment.” Ruth Ainley, Headteacher

With spaces available in Read’s Lower Junior School, and limited places elsewhere, brand new free weekly 25-minute music lessons including piano, other classical instruments and ukulele, are now available in LJS.