Plans for School Reopening 8th March 2021- Letter from Headteacher

26 Jan 2021

26 February 2021

Download as PDF

Dear Parent

I am writing to you to outline our plans for the re-opening of school from 8^th March 2021 and also explain how we will deliver the asymptomatic Covid-19 testing for students. As you can imagine, this is a complex process and I very much appreciate you taking the time to read through all of this detailed information carefully.

As you may be aware, schools have been asked to test students 3 times with each test taking place 3-5 days apart. Although students should not officially start returning to lessons until 8^th March, the DFE have now made it clear that we can begin testing students before that date in order to make the initial process more manageable. In addition to that, schools have been given the flexibility to “stagger” the return of students in the first full week back in order to deliver the testing as well as restart face-to-face teaching in the building again.

So, below is the outline schedule of how we propose to return the students to full-time lessons in school, whilst at the same time fulfilling our obligations to test them 3 times over the course of that period. As you will see, students will return to physical lessons gradually starting with Years 10 and 11 on Tuesday 9 March but remote-education will continue to be available for all year groups right up until Monday 15 March which is the first day when all year groups will be back in school together. So, from Monday 15 March inclusive, all students in all year groups will be back in school full-time.

On their first day back in school, students should go to the usual classroom for whatever lesson they have on their timetable for that day.

Following on from this letter, you will soon receive individual appointment slots for your child’s separate tests with additional information about how this process will work. Students will not have to wear uniform on the day of their test but will need to arrive on time and go straight to the sports hall where all of the testing will take place.

Please therefore, look closely at the following schedule and make sure your child is also aware of the process: 

Please note that in the second week (above),on those specific days where your son or daughter is scheduled to have a covid test there will be no live-lessons provided for them. This is partly to release staff to support with the testing regime but also because the student’s learning will be disrupted by their appointment in school. However, there will still be work set for them to complete either based on pre-recorded materials or other resources and platforms such as Show My Homework. Individual teachers will contact them to let them know how to access the appropriate work for that day.

In addition, on Friday 5 March staff will be coming into school to receive their initial Covid tests so there will be no live-lessons for any students on that day either. However, as above, work will still be set for all students and for all of their lessons (there just won’t be any live element on that day).

Other Information

Consent Forms: If for any reason you have not yet completed the Covid testing consent form which was emailed to you and can also be found on our website, it is now extremely urgent that you do so. The link is here:

Attendance: The DFE have made it clear that from 8 March 2021, attendance will once again become mandatory for all students.

Safety: While current restrictions remain in-place we will continue with all of the additional safety measures which were introduced in September. This includes keeping the students in their year-group bubbles with separate breaks and lunchtimes.

Timings: These will therefore revert to those that we introduced at the start of the year:

Face Masks: You may have seen that the government have suggested that for the time-being, staff and students should now also wear face-masks in classrooms whenever social-distancing is not possible (previously they were only mandatory in corridors and other communal areas). Please make your child aware that this will therefore be the expectation when they return to school. All students should bring their own face-mask to wear each day to reduce costs and wastage.

Laptops: As remote-education will no longer be required we need to recall all of the laptops which have been issued to students to support them with their learning during lockdown. Aside from the legal obligations, it is important that we do this as quickly as possible since we have plans to use them to continue using some of the new technologies that have been so successful in the classroom. We also hope to be able to offer some of our older students the possibility of borrowing a device to support them with their studies at home in the preparation for GCSE exams. So, if your child has been loaned a laptop by the school, please could you ensure that they either bring it back with them at the following times (after which they will no longer need it):

Year 7: when they attend school for their second test on Wednesday 10 March

Years 8 and 9: when they attend school for their third test on Friday 12 March

Years 10 and 11: when they attend school for their third test on Thursday 11 March

Or, if you prefer – a parent or other family member may return the device to school’s main reception in the week beginning Monday 15 March but by Friday 19 March at the latest please.

Important: before you or your child returns their laptop, please ensure that they save all of their work onto the “One-Drive” so that we still have access to it when they return to school.

Home-Testing

From week-beginning 15 march, parents will be able to request home-testing kits on a weekly basis to test their own children. We will share further details of how this system will work at a later date.

That is hopefully everything you need to know at this stage, however, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact the school in the normal way. Rest-assured, I am looking forward to seeing your children back in school very soon and I am sure you are too after the many challenges of home-schooling!

Yours Sincerely,

Mr S  Bowhay

Headteacher

Consultation on how grades should be awarded in summer 2021

25 Jan 2021

Dear Parent

Consultation on how grades should be awarded in summer 2021

Following the cancelling of the summer 2021 exams The Department for Education has launched a joint consultation with Ofqual on how GCSE, AS and A Level grades should be awarded this summer. The link to this consultation and how to respond is here. There is a separate consultation on the arrangements for vocational, technical and other qualifications and how to respond here.

The Department for Education and Ofqual have said that they want to hear the views of students who were due to take exams, their parents and carers, their teachers, school and college leaders and others who have an interest, including further and higher education providers, and employers.

The deadlines for responses are Friday 29 January 2021 at 23:45 and I encourage you and your child to take part in this important consultation so that the views of our school community are represented.

Best wishes,

Mrs Pearson

Y11 Exam Update

15 Jan 2021

Dear Year 11, 

When I emailed you all last week, I promised that I would let you know as soon as we had any further information.  The latest update that we have received is that the government is still working on what the alternative arrangements for this year will look like but they are exploring the possibility of providing externally set tasks or papers, so that teachers can use these to support their assessments of students.  

Assuming school is allowed to re-open after half-term, we will be moving back the dates of the second set of Y11 mock exams. These exams/ assessments will now take place between Monday 22 March and Friday 2 April. We will obviously be adapting the style and content of these assessments to reflect any guidance we receive regarding the likely format of any new external assessments which the exam boards may be offering in each subject. 

We will of course continue to share any information with you that we receive about this year’s process as soon as we have it and also pass on details about the new-style “mock exams” which we hope you will be sitting at the end of March. So the message for now is to keep working hard in preparation for whatever challenges lie ahead, particularly whilst everything remains uncertain.  Continue to stay focused and positive – I am still really impressed by the dedication that you are showing to your remote studies and it is lovely to keep receiving such positive feedback from your teachers.

Remember that we are here to support you in any way that we can.

 Take care,

 Mrs Pearson

How to Connect To Teams Using XBOX ONE or PlayStation

12 Jan 2021

If you haven’t already heard… you can access RM Unify, Microsoft office, Teams etc. on an Xbox or PS4 Games Console. 

Access Teams with Xbox:

Go to the Home Menu.
Select My games and apps.
Scroll down to Apps.
Go to Microsoft Edge application.
Type in a search for RM Unify Login
Select login, then log in using your school email as your username and school password.

Access Teams with the PS4/PS5:

Use your controller to scroll to the far right of the bar with games to Library.
Select Library application.
Within the library use the search bar to type in Internet.
Select the Internet Browser app.
Start Internet Browser and press the triangle button on the controller to search.
Once on the internet, type in the search box RM Unify Login and select the appropriate link
Login with your school email as your username and school password.

This video explains how to Connect To Teams Using XBOX ONE or Playstation:

Important Covid-19 Update: Y11 Examinations

11 Jan 2021

Dear Year 11

 I know that lots of you are understandably worried and anxious about the situation regarding your exams and that you have many questions about what will happen.  We don’t have all the answers yet but I wanted to share with you what we know so far: 

 ·         The government have announced that students will definitely not sit GCSE exams this summer

·         They are looking at putting in place a system of teacher-assessed grades as a replacement

·         Teachers will be given training and support to ensure these marks are awarded fairly and consistently

 We are expecting a full update on what this actually means by the end of January, and of course, as soon as we hear anything we will let you know. In the meantime, it is vital that you continue to work as hard as you can.  Whilst you will not be sitting formal exams, it is likely that we will still need to assess you in some way.  This could possibly mean some mock exams, or other forms of assessment, still going ahead (albeit in a very different way to normal) and last year we were asked to look at a range of evidence including work completed in class.  The important thing is that you realise that your final grades have not yet been decided so you still have everything to work for. It is also important to maintain your progress so that you are ready to make the step-up to whatever course(s) you hope to be studying in September.

 I also wanted to say that many of your teachers have told me that you are continuing to work incredibly hard and are engaging really well with the remote learning.  Well done – your response so far is impressive and we are all very proud of you.

 Finally, can I assure you that we will support you in every way possible to ensure that you achieve the grades you deserve at the end of this year. So, stay positive, work hard and just let us know if there is anything further we can do to support you.

Take care for now

 Mrs Pearson.

Inter-house Challenges

5 Jan 2021

Each competition will run for two weeks and students can enter as many as they like.

Local Food Banks and Social Eating Projects

3 Jan 2021

There is a page on Nottingham City Council’s website – https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/food-banks-and-community-based-food-projects/ with information about local food banks and social eating projects. 

The Council’s customer hub can refer people to food banks, they can be contacted on 0115 9155555.

NHS Test and Trace: COVID-19 testing for students

1 Jan 2021

Dear Parent,

We are working to keep our school as safe as possible. You may have heard that testing for those without coronavirus symptoms is beginning across the country using new, quicker COVID-19 tests known as ‘lateral flow tests’.

Along with the other protective measures we are taking, these tests will help staff and students to remain in school safely. Up to one third of people who have coronavirus experience no symptoms. By testing we will help to stop the virus spread and help to keep our school open as safely as possible. The test is voluntary, but I would encourage everyone to take it.

We will be testing all staff and secondary school age students who want to participate from week commencing 4 January 2021. An instructional leaflet with some more information is available from here How to do your test: COVID 19 instruction leaflet for schools (publishing.service.gov.uk).

Consent for Testing

If you are happy for your child to be tested, please fill in the form by following the link here (one form needs to be completed per student). Students over the age of 16 are permitted to complete this form themselves should you wish them to do so.

Those taking the test will be supervised by trained staff. The ‘lateral flow’ tests are quick and easy using a swab of your nose and throat. For under 18s, staff can oversee the swab process but the student will take their own test.

Any positive results (which take around half an hour from testing) will be shared directly with students and parents.

The government are confident that these tests work – in validation studies conducted by Oxford University and Public Health England, they were shown to be as accurate in identifying a case as a PCR test (99.68% specificity). The tests have lower sensitivity but they are better at picking up cases when a person has higher viral load, hence the need to test frequently.

What if a student tests positive?

Participating students who test positive will be informed about their results individually. Where participants are under 16, parents or legal guardians will also be notified. Guidance on safe travel and additional precautions will be provided along with test results.

Students will need to take a further ‘PCR test’ (similar to those done in local and regional testing sites) on the same day (or as soon as possible). We may be able to provide these PCR test kits to perform at home or you can go to www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119 to book a follow-up test if we are not able to provide one. If ordering a PCR test yourselves, they should choose to visit a drive-through test site if possible, as it is faster than requesting a home test.

During this time while they wait for the PCR result (via text / email) they will need to self-isolate.

If the PCR test returns a positive result you will have to self-isolate and follow the guidance from NHS Test and Trace. 

What happens if the test is negative?

They will be able to stay in school and resume their activities as normal as long as school is open to them. A student will only be told if they test positive on a ‘lateral flow’ test, so if you do not hear you can assume it was negative. A small number of students may need to repeat the test if the first test was invalid or void for some reason.

What if a close contact at school tests positive?

A close contact of someone in school who has tested positive for COVID-19 will need to self-isolate as per the national guidelines.

What if my child develops symptoms?

This testing programme at school is for people with no symptoms. If your child develops symptoms at any time (such as a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) they must immediately self-isolate, and book a test by calling 119 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or 0300 303 2713 (Scotland) or visiting https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

Yours sincerely

Steve Bowhay

Headteacher