Dear parent/carer,

2020 has in many ways been a year like no other. As a school we have had to adapt to the changing environment and the challenges this has posed to students, teachers and parents alike.

Technology has been a powerful tool in managing this change and we would like to share some information with you regarding the new platforms we are now using in school. We envisage that the use of these platforms will remain in place long after the effects of Covid 19 have passed.

In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers guidance and tailored support when choosing their next step after school, we will now be using Unifrog. Unifrog is an award-winning, online, careers platform. Whilst COVID has had a noticeable effect on lives and education, our students will still have their own journeys to take after life at Nishkam and to this end, providing high quality ‘careers and futures’ guidance remains a key goal at Nishkam.

Unifrog brings into one place every undergraduate university course, apprenticeship, and college course in the UK, as well as other opportunities, such as School Leaver Programmes, MOOCs and every college at Oxford and Cambridge. This makes it easy for students to compare and choose the best university courses, apprenticeships or further education courses for them. They can also explore exciting opportunities further afield by looking at English taught undergraduate programmes available in Europe and the USA.

Additionally, the platform helps students successfully apply for these opportunities by supporting the writing of their personal statement, applications and CVs and guiding them through the process, allowing teachers to give live feedback.

Students can access the tool for the first time using a sign-up code which is unique to their form group. They then login using their email address and password and they can do so from any computer, tablet or smartphone. We would encourage you to use the platform with your child so you can support them through the process of deciding their next step. 

Online learning is already a well-established part of teaching and learning at Nishkam High School. Our virtual learning environments are well established and used by students and staff. Edmodo has been broadly used on a day-to-day basis by many members of our school for several years, through which teachers actively share lesson resources, assessment materials and homework activities. We are pleased to be rolling out Microsoft Teams currently to replace Edmodo, which will build on the features of Edmodo and provide even greater scope for engaging students and utilising the power of technology to support learning. In addition to Microsoft Teams, Seneca is an extremely popular platform for independent learning, with many GCSE and A level subjects fully resourced. Furthermore, certain subjects have their own specific online learning platforms, including: Mr Frost (Maths and Uplearn (Chemistry, Psychology and Economics at KS5). Please do ask your child about these platforms.

The school has also introduced a new, easy to use online appointment booking and meeting system for Parents’ Evening during these Covid times. This allows you to choose your own appointment time with your child’s teacher in advance and you will receive an email confirming your appointments. Log in to the system before your scheduled appointment and it will set up a video call with your child’s teacher. We are confident this will be an effective way of continuing our parental engagement events in a safe and effective manner but look forward to the time when we can resume some face to face contact.

Online application and enrolment platform

Sixth form students are on a very important stage of their educational journey.  The choices they make and the work they do in Years 12 and 13 will pave the way to universities and careers. To support the application process to join Nishkam’s sixth form, we have moved to an online platform which allows students to review and complete their applications at their own pace in their own space. Coupled with a Virtual Open Evening platform for September 2021 entry, we are confident that students considering our Sixth Form will have the necessary information and guidance to make informed decisions.

The platform is also used in the transition from Year 6 to secondary school.

For all these platforms to work to their full potential, it is vital that we hold accurate email addresses for all our parents and carers. Please ensure that we hold your most up-to-date email address, so that you have access to all of the above platforms and the benefits and opportunities they offer.

If you have any queries regarding any of these platforms, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Mr A. Ruhe

Assistant Principal and Head of Sixth Form