On the 22nd May, we advised parents/carers that it is the expectation from the government that we look to reopen to provide face-to-face tutorials for Year 10 and Year 12 students from the beginning of June. With the recent announcement the government confirmed that whilst primary schools are returning from 1st June, Year 10 and Year 12 students cannot begin to attend until 15th June at the earliest. I am now in a position to share with you more details about our proposed plan.
We will use the next two weeks to prepare for our reopening and provide training and support to staff. I am sure you will understand that before we offer readmittance to Year 10 and Year 12 students we need to make sure that we provide time for staff to familiarise themselves with the control measures we are putting in place to protect the safety and wellbeing of staff and students. We also need to make sure staff are confident managing students as we know that students will find it hard to return to a school that will look and feel very different.
We have set the date of Monday 15th June to start to invite specific groups of Year 12’s to attend school, and the following Monday 22nd June to begin specific Year 10 groups attending.
Below is our proposed plan for reopening the school and as indicated above we will be working towards this outcome with a particular emphasis on supporting staff and students with their physical and emotional wellbeing as we fully appreciate that the unprecedented circumstances have been a source of considerable anxiety to all.
For Year 12 we are proposing inviting class groups in to receive face to face support in a 90-120-minute sessions with their teacher, focusing on supporting their continued remote learning and ensuring they are well prepared for the start of Year 13. For Year 10 we are proposing that students return in three groups of no more than 15 students per day with each student attending once per week. When in school they will have three 40-minute sessions where the focus will be on reviewing learning so far and supporting their future remote learning.
By keeping these groups so small and keeping them away from the key worker and vulnerable students we will comfortably meet the social distancing guidelines. Each group will be using a different area of the school to complete their sessions. Sessions will have staggered start times to minimise the social contact and potential for overcrowding. Students will be expected to arrive on site at their allotted time and will be met by a teacher. Students will be allocated different entry points to the school. Students will be asked to wash their hands on arrival and reminded frequently throughout the day to continue to wash or sanitise their hands. Each room will have hand sanitiser and wipes and it is the teachers who will join the class for each session rather than the students moving around the school. Teachers will observe strict hygiene regulations and observe social distancing at all times. Following arrival into school, students will then be escorted to their classroom where they will be guided to a seat which will remain theirs for the duration of their time in school. Students should attend in their school uniform with the exception of blazers, and bring all equipment to be used with them, a pen, pencil and ruler as an absolute minimum. To reduce chances of contamination, sharing of equipment is not an option during these sessions.
Students will be permitted to eat and drink any food that they have brought from home, and we ask that they do this sensibly at their desks. At this time, we will not be operating any canteen facilities and ask that students follow staff instructions with regards to disposing of any rubbish at the end of the last session before leaving the building as part of a staggered finish.
Throughout each day there will be cleaners on site to offer extra and ongoing cleaning routines which will typically concentrate on disinfecting common surfaces such as door handles etc. For Key Worker children and vulnerable students’ arrangements will continue to work as they have been over the last couple of months. Their allocated area, toilet facilities and staffing will remain strictly separate from the Year 12 and Year 10 sessions.
For all other students, including Year 10 when they are not in school, they should continue with their learning from home, which will continue to be supported by staff remotely, and all students should continue to complete their weekly check-in with their form tutor irrespective of whether they have attended school or not.
Parents of Year 10 and Year 12 students will receive a questionnaire shortly; this will be incredibly brief and should take you no more than two minutes to complete and is vital for us in our continued planning. Closer to 15th June you will be advised when your son/daughter has been invited into school. More detailed guidance will also be provided at that point around the areas of the school that have been ring fenced for your child.
On behalf of all the staff I would like to thank you for your continued support, it is much appreciated. I hope you understand that a great deal of effort has and will continue to go into planning for your child’s return. We are following the latest advice, and this does mean that things may need to change at short notice or that we might need to review our proposed plans. We will continue to keep you informed but if you have any further queries or questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
With very best wishes.
Neil Dunn
Headteacher