This is the time of year when our Year 9 students decide which subjects they would like to study in Years 10 and 11. This is an important decision for them and, this year, all the information they need is available online. An options booklet and presentation is available for students and their parents/carers to view together on the school's learning platform, Myvle. In addition, each Year 9 form group is taking part in an online options assembly and subject taster sessions during their lessons in the coming days. An online Q&A parents' evening will take place for any questions that might arise. Further information on options process and the courses on offer is available at www.ladymanners.net/options

Remote learning is now firmly embedded and students and teachers are not letting the current arrangements hamper their progress. Online 'live' lessons are being provided to all students in all year groups for the great majority of their lessons. Where this is not possible, work is being set for students to complete for discussion or feedback in the following lesson. Our learning platform, Myvle, is bursting with resources to help students to complete their work so that they can keep learning. Teachers of more practical subjects are also finding ways to meet the challenge of learning from a distance, as is shown in this image of a Year 11 Engineering lesson in action. Details of how remote learning is to be accessed, and further information is available at www.ladymanners.net/remotelearning. We'd like to thank all of our staff who are providing and supporting teaching during these times, our students, almost all of whom are engaging so readily, and their parents and carers who are supporting them in doing so. You're all doing a brilliant job!

Students 'returned' to school today, mostly without leaving their homes. Following the Prime Minister's announcement of a national lockdown, remote learning systems have been re-established and students have started the term using them to continue their learning. Students, parents and carers have received details of how remote learning is to be accessed, and further information is available at www.ladymanners.net/remotelearning. It's lovely to see the students after the Christmas break - even if it is on a screen for the time being.

Today saw the end of a week filled with festive events and activities before students headed off for a well-earned Christmas break. The events have included: - the annual Christmas lunch - Christmas music and muffins for our Year 7 students, provided by the Year 10 Windband and Jazz Band - have-a-go play a Christmas tune on the piano in the Year 7 student area - musical accompaniment to lunch by our talented Year 13 musicians - the annual house quiz...the results of which will be announced after Christmas. In addition, our current Year 12 students received their GCSE and other exam certificates in a special ceremony in the Main Hall. Collections organised by our Sixth Form community have resulted in sizeable donations of tinned and other goods being made to Chesterfield Food Bank and a large quantity of coats are now being transported to refugees in France, Belgium and the UK. Rather than missing our annual Nine Lessons and Carols service at Bakewell Parish Church, we have taken the event online. A video featuring our students reading and playing a selection of festive music is available at www.ladymanners.net/ninelessons. We hope that all of our staff, students and their families have an enjoyable and restful break.

The school's Sixth Form School Officers have been bowled over with the response to their campaign to collect donations for Chesterfield Foodbank. Students from all year groups in the school have been bringing in donations of tins, toiletries and non-perishable food items for the last couple of weeks and we have consequently amassed a large quantity of items for donation. Sixth Form students are pictured with some of the items that are being collected by Chesterfield Foodbank staff today. The School Officers would like to thank all of the students, parents and carers and staff who helped with this initiative.

Today we enjoyed Christmas dinner at school. Many of our students and staff enjoyed a full plate of succulent turkey (or Quorn roast), stuffing, potatoes, sausage, peas, carrots and cranberry sauce, all covered in gravy. Our wonderful Catering Team have been pulling out all the stops this week with Christmas themed cakes and biscuits as alternatives to the delicious Christmas pudding and custard that was on offer today. This culinary highlight of the autumn term, was cooked in our kitchens, which hold the five star food hygiene rating. Students and staff can also be confident that their food is healthy as we hold gold membership of the Heart of Derbyshire scheme and make pledges on the fat, salt, sugar, vegetable, fruit, wholegrain, allergen content and portion sizes of our meals. Thank you to our Catering Team – it was delicious!