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Dear Parents

COVID-19 – Update from the Principal

A further brief update on school matters as we reach the end of another week.  The students have demonstrated their resilience and have very quickly settled into the new routines and are becoming ever more familiar with how to navigate one-way systems, stay in their allocated areas at break and lunch and remember which gate they need to arrive at and depart from.  One of the positive things that has emerged from the COVID virus is I believe, a greater appreciation of how essential cooperation and team work are, in order to overcome the challenges that we all face.

There are some key reminders that I would like to stress, as adhering to these points will enable everyone to stay focused on the teaching and learning, and therefore ensure maximum progress will be made by all of the students.

  • 1If anyone in your household has symptoms of the virus the whole household must self-isolate.  The person who is displaying symptoms must go for a test, but it is essential that everyone else isolates for 14 days or until the test is confirmed as negative.  The significance of this being followed correctly has again been demonstrated this week as we had one of our students confirmed, as suffering from the virus.  Thankfully because of their vigilance, and because they followed the guidance above, the student had correctly isolated when another member of the family became unwell.  The student felt well, so was a little frustrated at having to stay away from school whilst waiting for the result of a family members test, which eventually returned as positive.  Only having been away from school for several days already, did the student then develop symptoms, and subsequently a positive test result.  Their vigilance has enabled the rest of their class and potentially Year Group to continue their studies.
  • Students have in the main adapted to the compulsory wearing face masks when moving around the school.  The success of the face masks is dependent upon students taking responsibility for their own mask, and not to wait to be reminded about it.  When departing from lessons, it is obviously easy for staff to remind and enforce the wearing of a mask but I would ask you to impress upon your children, that they also need to ensure their mask is on, at the end of break or lunch time, as they then move to their lessons.  Whilst outside at break and lunch, they have the benefit of the fresh air and the space on the playground to be apart from each other, but once they start moving to their next lesson, even if still outside, they need to put their mask on as other Year Groups are also moving to their lessons at this same point.  “Bell gone.  Mask on.” May well become our mantra!
  • It would also be helpful to remind your children that their responsibility to help supress the spread of the virus must be continued, whilst on the way home.  Obviously whilst in school, the rules around groups of six have to be suspended.  However, as soon as they depart from the school members of the public will quite rightly expect the students to adhere to these wider measures.  This is particularly applicable to our 6th Form students who are permitted to leave the site during their lunch hour.  In the main, our staggered departure times and use of different exit points, has greatly reduced the congestion in the surrounding community.
  • We have this week had the start of autumn weather and the inevitable rain.  If it is raining at lunch or break time we will still expect the students to stay outside.  Please ensure that they are equipped with umbrellas or suitable coats to withstand the poor weather.  There is obviously some shelter available and in extreme weather we will bring the students inside, but you will understand the benefits of keeping students outside with the current risks of infection.
  • A reminder about a long-established rule that has not changed.  All coats worn to school must be black or navy blue.
  • Finally, the importance of good hand hygiene, students having their own sanitiser, equipment, mask and spare mask in case one breaks, refillable water bottle and snack for break time, are all hopefully now part of the new daily routine.

Many thanks for your continued support, have a good weekend.

Yours faithfully

Phil Grundy

Principal

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