--- title: "Headteacher's Blog #18" url: "https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/news/2026-02-06-headteacher-s-blog-18" school: "Lytham St Annes High School" --- [![Lytham St Annes High School](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/logo/Untitled_design_(2).png)](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/) - [Attendance](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/attendance-and-punctuality-expectations) - [Help and Resources](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/support-for-parents-carers-and-students) - [Online Safety](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/online-safety) - [Safeguarding](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/policies/safeguardingpolicies) - [Vacancies](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/job-vacancies) - [Report a Concern](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/report-a-concern) - [ 01253 733192 ](tel:01253%20733192) - [ reception@lsahigh.org ](mailto:reception@lsahigh.org) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LSAHighSchool/) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@lythamstanneshighschool4750) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lsahighschool/) - About Us - [DfE Performance and Comparison Table](https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/119740/lytham-st-annes-high-school/secondary) - [Ethos and Values](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/ethos-and-values) - [Our School Values](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/ethos-and-values) - [Feeder Primary Schools](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/feeder-primary-schools) - [PASCH School](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/news/2019-02-12-becoming-a-pasch-school) - [United Against Bullying](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/antibullying-support) - [Financial Information](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/policies/financial-information) - [Governors](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/school-information/governors-new) - [Heads of Years & Pastoral Team](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/heads-of-years) - [Head Teacher's Welcome](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/our-school) - [Ofsted Report](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/ofsted-report) - [Policies and Procedures](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/policies) - [SEND School](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/SEN-Provision) - [Senior Leadership Team](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/our-school/slt) - [Attendance and Safeguarding](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/attendance-and-safeguarding) - [Coastal Collaborative Trust](https://cctrust.uk/) - [Hire our School Facilities](http://www.hirelsa.co.uk) - Students - [The School Day](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/students/the-school-day) - [More Than Grades](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/extra-curricular) - [The House System](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/students/the-house-system) - [Year 9 GCSE Preferences](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/students/year-9-preferences) - [Careers Guidance](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/careers) - [Careers Guidance](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/careers) - [Labour Market](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/careers/CEIAG-resources) - [FAQ](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/careers/faqs) - [College interview hints](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/careers/college-interview-tips) - [Interview questions](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/careers/interview-questions) - [Useful websites](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/careers/useful-website) - [Careers Box](https://www.careersbox.co.uk/) - [Extra Curricular, Student Groups and Trips](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/activities) - [Student Support](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/student-support) - [What support do we offer?](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/student-support) - [Anti-Bullying Support](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/antibullying-support) - [LGBT Information](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/LGBT-support) - [Early Help Offer](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/support-for-parents-carers-and-students/school-s-early-help-offer) - Parents - [Attendance](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/attendance-and-punctuality-expectations) - [Parents' Evenings](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/parents-evening) - [Introduction to the electronic systems and apps we use](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/electronic-systems) - [PTFA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/PTFA) - [PTFA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/PTFA) - [Ways to support the PTFA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/PTFA/ways-to-support-us) - [Help and Resources](https://lsa.schudio.com/parents/support-for-parents-carers-and-students) - [What support will your child have available?](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/student-support) - [Lunchtime / Catering ](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/school-information/catering) - [Homework at LSA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/homework-at-lsa) - Year 6 Information Evening - [Join LSA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/policies/admissions-policies) - [Joining LSA 2026 - 2027 Information](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/joining-lsa) - [Admissions and Appeals Arrangements](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/policies/admissions-policies) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/frequently-asked-questions) - [Why Choose LSA?](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/why-choose-lsa) - [Attendance and Punctuality Expectations ](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/attendance-and-punctuality-expectations) - [Lunchtime at LSA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/school-information/catering) - [Reward System ](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/students/reward-system) - [Uniform](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/school-information/uniform) - [SEND Provision for your child](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/SEN-Provision) - [SEND Provision](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/SEN-Provision) - [Curriculum](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/subject-areas) - [About Our Curriculum](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/subject-areas) - [Number of lessons per fortnight information](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/number-of-lessons-per-fortnight) - [Courses available at Key Stage 4](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/courses-available-at-key-stage-4) - [Art and Design ](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/expressive-and-performing-arts/art) - [Art and Design](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/expressive-and-performing-arts/art) - LSA Art in Lockdown - [Business & Computing](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/business-and-computing) - [Business and Computing](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/business-and-computing) - [Media Production](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/media-productio) - [Design Technology](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/design-technology) - [Design and Technology](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/design-technology) - [Student's Work](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/gallery/design-and-technology-gallery) - [Citizenship](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/citizenship-curriculum) - [Drama](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/expressive-and-performing-arts/drama) - [English](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/english) - [English](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/english) - [Student Writing](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/english/student-writing) - [Accelerated Reader](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/english/accelerated-reader) - [History](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/history) - [Geography](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/geography) - [Maths](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/maths-2017) - [Maths](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/maths-2017) - [Maths Year 7 Intervention Booklet](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/maths-intervention-booklet) - [Learning Walls and Useful Websites](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/learning-walls-and-useful-websites) - [KS3 Maths Revision](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/Maths-ks3) - [KS4 Maths Revision](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/maths-ks4) - [Modern Foreign Languages](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/modern-foreign-languages) - [Modern Foreign Languages](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/modern-foreign-languages) - [Year 7 Languages & Structures](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/modern-foreign-languages/year-7-languages-structures) - [Year 8 Languages & Structures](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/modern-foreign-languages/year-8) - [Year 9 Languages & Structures](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/modern-foreign-languages/year-9-languages-structures) - [Music](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/expressive-and-performing-arts/music) - [Physical Education](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/PE) - [Physical Education](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/PE) - [PE Extra Curricular](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/extra-curricular/pe-extra-curricular-timetable) - [Religious Studies](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/religious-studies) - [PSHE (Personal Development PD)](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/life) - [Science](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/science) - [Science](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/science) - [Seneca](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/science/seneca) - [SEN Curriculum](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/SEN-Provision) - [Homework at LSA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-standards/homework-at-lsa) - [Reading at LSA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa) - [Reading at LSA](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa) - [Take A Quiz](https://login.renaissance.com/12d2ca28-fe5e-46a5-a4ec-412477d45b9e?state=15a0f4f2-b6d5-4cef-ae89-01b5823b5d2c) - [Accelerated Reader](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/accelerated-reader) - [Meet The Team](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/meet-the-team) - [Reading Blog](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/reading-blog) - [E-Book Platform](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/e-book-platform) - [Library Catalogue](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/library-catalogue) - [Annual Literature Festival](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/annual-literature-festival) - [Form Time Reading](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/form-time-reading) - [Reading Across the Curriculum](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/reading-across-the-curriculum) - [Other Useful Links](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/reading-at-lsa/other-useful-links) - [Exams](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/exams) - [Exam Information](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/exams) - [Term Dates](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/useful-information/termdates) - [Contact Us](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/contact) # Headteacher's Blog #18 6 February 2026 ![Image of Headteacher's Blog #18](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/news/Blog_-18.png) It is interesting that our politicians no longer talk about the impact that the Covid pandemic had on our society, it is as if it never existed. To an extent I understand this well, we shouldn't use an event that happened almost six years ago to excuse low expectations. Of all the crises I have dealt with in my career the pandemic lockdowns were the most significant. I was leading a school that already faced significant challenges and the idea that school would not be a physical part of the lives of young people for an extended period of time was devastatingly distressing. It is safe to say that the inquest into the decision to shut schools has not yet been written. When it has been, I feel that it will reveal that this period of time devalued the importance of schools to society, relegated them behind the need for commerce and breached that most important agreement that individuals have with the state, the social contract. The pandemic largely removed school from the lives of young people for almost an academic year, it also largely removed social care as the information that schools picked up about young people couldn't be effectively shared. The institutions that are in place to keep young people safe were rendered impotent and the pressure was piled on parents to pick up the slack. The certainty of schooling to the lives of young people and families was removed and it is still taking time to recover. AT LSA the tail of the Covid lockdowns has been particularly long, compounded by a major building project and changes to leadership. The contract between the school and its community is not yet fully in place. The most obvious symptom of this is attendance, our attendance prior to the lockdowns was at the national average, now it is in the bottom 10% of similar schools. We are 2 years behind the recovery seen by most schools. Schools rely on certainty, stability and clear boundaries; on these pillars good attendance is built. This is especially true for our most vulnerable young people. Our work since September has been to reestablish these norms but we need your support. Although attendance has improved this year, every day 60 fewer students attend school than they did 6 years ago. The social contract which once bound parents and school together is mending, but we have a way to go. We need your support and, if our young people are to be resilient and successful in future life, they need to be at school. You can be assured that although we will not always get it right, we will be trying our best to make this school a place that we can all be proud to send our children to. - [ previous](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/news/2026-02-05-amazing-apprenticeships-assembly-for-year-11) - [next ](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/news/2026-02-10-online-safety-ambassadors-lead-the-way-for-safer-internet-day) [![International School Award](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/partners/isa-web-banner-300x70.jpg)](https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/content/international-school-award-about)[![Stonewall](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/partners/StonewallOG2(1).png)](http://www.stonewall.org.uk/)[![CEOP](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/partners/blue_large_final_Click_CEOP_gif_(3).gif)](https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre)![SSAT Member](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/partners/SSAT_Member_Badge_Colour1.png)![We are reading ](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/partners/We_Are_Reading_logo_(4).jpg)![Apprenticeship Champion](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/partners/App_Champion_logo_School_badge-01(1).png)![Operation Encompass](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/partners/logo-next-steps.png)[![Digital Healthy Schools](https://files.schudio.com/lsa/images/partners/digital-healthy-schools-landscape-logo.3f633add.jpg)](https://lythamhigh-lancs.digitalhealthyschools.co.uk/) ### School Resources - [Developing Vocabulary](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/Developing-Vocabulary) - [Learning Wall](http://lsa.thelearningwall.co.uk/) - [Student Support](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/student-support) - [Anti-Bullying Support](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/antibullying-support) ### Useful Links - [Microsoft 365 Copilot](https://login.microsoftonline.com/) - [Synergy](https://lsa.schoolsynergy.co.uk/) - [Synergy Parent Guides](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/synergy/synergy-guide) - [Student Synergy App (Apple)](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/synergy-student/id6444856817) - [Student Synergy App (Android)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.synergy.student&hl=en_GB) - [Hire school facilities](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/hire-us) - [CPOMS](https://lythamhigh.cpoms.net/) - [ Modern Slavery Statement](https://cctrust.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Modern-Slavery-Statement-Jan-26.pdf) ### Contact Us **Lytham St Annes High School** Albany Road Lytham St Annes Lancashire FY8 4GW Tel: 01253 733192 ### Connect With Us [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LSAHighSchool/) [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@lythamstanneshighschool4750) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lsahighschool/) © Copyright 2013–2026 Lytham St Annes High School– [View Privacy Notice](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/school-information/privacy-notices). All rights reserved. School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)