Ysgol Bryn Alyn praised for online learning provision

The school's highly personal approach to online learning has been highly acclaimed by parents and students.

The past few months have been extremely difficult for everybody, no less for students and staff, who have had to adapt to new ways of learning and teaching. With staff proving innovative in their approach to allow students to follow their usual timetable.

Headteacher Adele Slinn said: "At Ysgol Bryn Alyn we are always looking to improve our practice and ensure students are given the very best learning experience.

"After the first lockdown students and parents were asked about their online experiences and this was used to support the school to adapt their practice to ensure students received the very best educational offer.

"Students and staff both missed face-to-face interaction and it was clear that 'live' lessons were the way to go. We invested heavily in training our staff and students in innovative practices as well as investing heavily in interactive software.

"We made the decision to follow students' normal timetables to offer stability and a sense of normality in a very difficult situation as well as ensuring the very best learning experiences."

Miss Kipping teaching an online science lesson from her office in Ysgol Bryn Alyn.

Parental support has been overwhelmingly positive for Ysgol Bryn Alyn's online offer. One parent said: "In our eyes they have gone above and beyond what we expected. Staff truly do care for their pupils."

Deputy headteacher Alison Kipping added: "Live lessons at the school are exciting and engaging.

"We have worked hard to ensure students are able to interact with their teachers as well as other students. Staff training has been ongoing to share good practice and ensure we are giving our students the very best learning experience."

"Both parents and pupils have been thrilled with our offer which allows pupils to follow their normal curriculum timetable.

"The interactive lessons also enable pupils to ask questions and be guided through tasks which has raised both engagement and attainment across the board."

Mrs Norris, Head of Year 11 at Ysgol Bryn Alyn, teaching a live online Welsh lesson.

Another parent said: "Ysgol Bryn Alyn has been excellent, they set up Google Classroom work from the first day of the school closure - very impressive."

Alongside the live lessons Ysgol Bryn Alyn has also place high importance on the wellbeing of all of their pupils. Pastoral Google Classrooms and live assemblies and form time have supported students in keeping in touch as well as regular phone calls home from their form tutors.

Deputy headteacher Jo Ebrey said: "The wellbeing of our students was paramount at this difficult time. It was important to us to keep in touch and support all of our students during this unprecedented period and our pastoral team have been fundamental in keeping in touch with every single student. Our wellbeing support is second to none here at YBA."

Mr Brookes teaching an online Spanish lesson to Ysgol Bryn Alyn's Year 7.

"We also wanted to boost the morale of students, parents and staff and so have used our social media pages to both inspire students and motivate and reward their hard work with daily shout outs.

"These shout outs are sent each day by staff to reward amazing effort from our students and celebrate their success.

"We culminated our shout outs this lockdown by opening up the nominations to staff, students and our community. We were inundated by responses wanting to praise the work done over lockdown by staff, students and their families. It was amazing to see the positivity it created."

Ysgol Bryn Alyn is looking forward to welcoming their students back into the school buildings from Monday, March 15. Please see their website for further information about their return to school.