Acland Burghley School in Tufnell Park

• WE are parents at Acland Burghley School, Tufnell Park, and write to share our appreciation for the way the staff coped during the pandemic.

They have put students first at every opportunity, becoming a calm voice of reassurance at a time when parents’ anxiety, let alone children’s, has been at times overwhelming.

From the moment they knew this year’s exams were going to be cancelled, staff communicated openly and confidently with families as the school navigated its way through a minefield of government directives. It resisted the temptation to recreate the usual “exam hall” experience, instead methodically carrying out assessments in class.

In short, staff put students’ mental health at the heart of everything they did. To cap it all for Year 11 students the term ended with two weeks of enrichment activities and some much-needed fun.

There has been so much joy in our children’s secondary education. The balance between being challenged and understood has been so refreshing.

Head of year Sean McHugh has been so much more than a teacher. He’s been a mentor and counsellor to our children and our families, and he, with all the other staff, deserve our heartfelt thanks.

COREN MILES, YASMIN HAI, PAUL BERCZELLER, SONALI NAIK, LOUISE WILLIAMS, BILL MARSHALL, EMMA BAIGNERES, LAUREN GEDDES, HANNAH KEMPTON, SUSIE MCMORROW, STEPHEN BRASSINGTON, SANDY MCBRIDE, RUSS CLAPHAM, TIM & NICKI LONGFOOT, KIRSTY & DAVID DYE, JESSICA QUINN, KATHY NEAL, JULIAN MACKINTOSH, LIBBY & JOBY DAVIES, THOMASINA LOWE, HUGO FLEISCHMANN & MADELEINE HOLT