Christmas is cancelled at Shirebrook Academy says principal

Mark Cottingham, principal of Shirebrook Academy

Sadly, the restrictions mean we will not be able to have our annual carol concert in Shirebrook market square, we will not be holding our Winter Wonderland community event and our annual staff panto has had to be scrapped.

Oh yes it has - unfortunately.

It’s a shame, but inevitable, because of the need to keep everybody safe and well, while this is merely the latest in a growing list of difficult and unpopular decisions that we are having to take during the ongoing coronavirus emergency.

While in some ways life has not been as different as I initially feared, leading a school at the moment can feel like trying to solve a series of puzzles with several pieces and clues missing, at least when it comes to responding precisely, promptly and properly when we are notified of a positive test.

I’m also regularly asked technical Covid questions that I don’t feel qualified to answer and have to rely on making decisions based on the latest available advice and guidance.

Like most people, I’m no scientific expert, and in this respect I can see in microcosm what it must be like to be the Prime Minister at this time. Everyone is looking to you for answers, you will never please everyone, and all you can do is listen to the experts and offer people guidance and reassurance.

Happily, you also discover new ways of doing things that you wouldn’t have explored before, which is why all is not lost this Christmas, since we have decided to replace our annual panto sing-song with a video with the students communicating the words using Makaton, rather than singing.

It won’t be the same as other years but it’s something, and it does make sure that, even if we have had to scrap everything else, we’ll get one festive opportunity to say ho-ho-ho - rather than no-no-no.

Do you have a subject that you’d like to get off your chest? Perhaps it’s something that has touched your heart or made you angry. We would love to hear your opinions. Send your thoughts, together with a photo of yourself, to: [email protected]