‘Hold on to your dreams’ education chiefs tell pupils
MANCHESTER’S education bosses have sent a letter to all Year 11 pupils across the city as a message of support to mark what has been an unprecedented final year at high school for them.
The letter - which recognises how difficult the year has been for the youngsters during the Covid pandemic - pays tribute to the way they have dealt with the situation, the disruption to their exams, and their leaving plans with friends.
Coun Garry Bridges, executive member for children and schools, said: “We thought it was really important to send a personal letter to each student in our class of 2020 because we want them to know they’ve not been forgotten and are very much in our thoughts.
“As a city we’re really proud of everything they’ve achieved so far during their years in school and couldn’t let this moment of leaving high school pass without marking this. They’ve already accomplished so much and we know they will go on to achieve even more. At the same time however we know how difficult these last few months have been - to have had everything they were working towards in school taken away from them - their exams, their final term in school, their proms and leaving parties, as well as missing out on the chance to say proper goodbyes to their teachers, and perhaps most importantly, their friends.
“Sadly we can’t make any of this right, but we do want to make sure that none of our Year 11s fall through the gap, and that they all go on to follow the plans they’ve made to move on to further education, an apprenticeship, or work and training.
“We also want them to know that we are here to help, as are all of their teachers, who - like us - want nothing but the very best for each and every one of them now and always.”
The letter contains practical pointers for young people about their next steps either in education, training, or apprenticeships.
It also acknowledges the stress and anxiety that many young people have been feeling during lockdown, and advises students where to get help with their mental health if they are finding things hard to cope with.
It ends by telling students to hold on to their dreams and reminds them they live in an amazing city where they can still achieve anything.