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News - Sixth Form

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Update 2
18/03/2020

Dear Parent,

I am writing to update you further on the latest information relating to the school’s response to the COVID-19 virus.

UK Government Guidance

Earlier this week the prime minister announced new guidance on household isolation in response to the coronavirus.

The symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • A high temperature (37.8 degrees and above)
  • A new, continuous cough

If a member of your household have symptoms, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for fourteen days. For anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for seven days from when the symptoms appeared.

Pupil and Staff Attendance

The government’s updated advice has led to a number of staff and pupils being absent from school. At present the number of teacher absences have yet to reach a level where a partial school closure is likely or imminent although this does remain a possibility if the staffing ratio reduces further. Were we to reach this situation years 12, 9 and 8 would be the first to be asked to stand down as we sought to dedicate limited staffing to the youngest in the school community and towards those studying for public examinations.

If your son/daughter is currently absent from school due to household isolation but they remain fit and healthy it is important that they continue with their studies. Given the current number of absences we will not be in a position to provide bespoke work for each individual, we do however recommend that they:

  • Take the opportunity to review all exercise books and act upon advice offered by teachers
  • Prepare revision materials on topics studied so far this year:

        - Mind Map Advice and Revision Advice on our website
        - See Planner pages for exam skills and subject specific websites (pp75-83)
        - Seneca (www.senecalearning.com)
        - Revision world (www.revisionworld.com)
        - TED ED (ed.ted.com)

  • Check Synergy for any ongoing homework tasks and key messages
  • MyMaths for topics already covered
  • Complete any unfinished classwork and homework
  • Read
  • Teach yourself a new skill
  • Investigate or research something new
  • For year 11 pupils, complete a new revision timetable (a template can be found on the website)

Social Distancing and Non-Essential Travel

We continue to act on guidance from the Department for Education and as a consequence have taken measure to promote social distancing (a horrible phrase) including the rescheduling of the school musical, the suspension of assemblies and acts of collective worship and an encouragement to pupils to spend as much of their recreation time as possible outside on the school yard rather than congregating in corridors or confined spaces. Students in the lower sixth have been offered the opportunity to leave the sixth form during those periods when they would ordinarily complete self-study or enrichment.

In order to limit all non-essential travel we have also suspended all school trips, outings and visits. For foreign travel this suspension currently applies to the end of the school year. I would ask for patience from those parents who have already made payments towards these visits as we continue negotiations with the relevant tour operators and the school’s insurance provider in order to secure appropriate refunds.

Preparations

The prime minister yesterday declared that the total closure of schools was something that was under ‘continuous review’. With this in mind we have taken measures to plan for this eventuality, including the preparation of resources in order to launch home on-line learning via School Synergy. Please take this opportunity, ahead of any announcement, to contact the school office if you know that your son/daughter will be unable to access a home computer or tablet in the coming weeks, thus allowing us time to make alternative arrangements. Plans are also in place to support our most vulnerable pupils and those entitled to free school meals, and consideration is being given to how best support the children of parents who are employed in vital services such as the NHS.

Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu have described the current situation as one prompting us to serve others in a new way. Let us then grasp the opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel – a hope for all humankind, one which counters fear and isolation and one which needs to be infinitely more infectious than any disease.

With best wishes to you and your family.

Yours sincerely,

RD Jones
Headmaster