THE BBC Breakfast cameras have visited Birchwood Community High School.

Beeb education correspondent Elaine Dunkley was welcomed into the Brock Road site on Monday, November 30, during filming for a national news piece regarding Ofsted’s concerns over the effect that absences from school during the coronavirus pandemic will have had on vulnerable pupils.

Headteacher Emma Mills and deputy pastoral manager were among those featured in the segment, with the school having opened its Polaris Centre back in September.

Warrington Guardian:

This pastoral hub offers support to students in order to help them with their wellbeing and mental health.

A school spokesman said: “At Birchwood Community High School, we are well aware of our duty to provide excellent pastoral care as well as education – and to that end we were proud to open our Polaris Centre and house system at the start of this academic year, creating a new pastoral family for our students, staff and parents.

“After chatting with the team, the BBC were massively impressed with our Polaris Centre – calling it innovative and fresh.

“They were particularly impressed that we maintained contact and carried out home visits and Skype calls right throughout tight lockdown periods and opened our door to vulnerable children to attend school along with key worker children from the very start of lockdown, allowing no-one to slip through our net.

“Polaris really is a beacon to all students, and in particular those who are more vulnerable.

“We really do provide the eyes to see and the ears to hear, looking after the greatest needs of our students.”