The school is very excited to welcome your child back, and we cannot wait to see them return next week.

In the meantime, thank you for everything that you are doing to support your child to learn at home. Our analysis shows that the majority of our students are completing all of their work and a large part of this is down to the brilliant support that you are giving them at home, making sure that they have a quiet place to study – free from distractions, checking the work that they have completed and talking to them about their learning.

Phased Return Timeline

Please see below the timelines for the return of your child’s year group. Your child will be expected to arrive for their test in their full uniform and they will be expected to arrive for their first day of school with all of their equipment.

Monday 8^th March 2021

• Year 11 start date and times

Year 11	Group 11/1	Group 11/2	Group 11/3	Group 11/4	Y11/Those who have not agreed to testing
Time to attend for testing	8:00am	8:30am	9:00am	9:30am	10am arrival

Tuesday 9^th March 2021

• Year 10 start date and times

Year 10	Group 10/1	Group 10/2	Group 10/3	Group 10/4	Y10/Those who have not agreed to testing
Time to attend for testing	8:00am	8:30am	9:00am	9:30am	10am arrival

Wednesday 10^th March 2021

• Year 7 start date and times

Year 7	Group 7/1	Group 7/2	Group 7/3	Group 7/4	Y7/Those who have not agreed to testing
Time to attend for testing	8:00am	8:30am	9:00am	9:30am	10am arrival

Thursday 11^th March 2021

• Year 8 start date and times

Year 8	Group 8/1	Group 8/2	Group 8/3	Group 8/4	Y8/Those who have not agreed to testing
Time to attend for testing	8:00am	8:30am	9:00am	9:30am	10am arrival

Friday 12^th March 2021

• Year 9 start date and times

Year 9	Group 9/1	Group 9/2	Group 9/3	Group 9/4	Y9/Those who have not agreed to testing
Time to attend for testing	8:00am	8:30am	9:00am	9:30am	10am arrival

Please note we will text you in the next few days to confirm which testing group your child’s year group will be a part of.

Testing Process

• We have a team of trained staff ready to oversee student self-testing in school.
• Provided we have your consent, Year 7-11 students will be offered tests for COVID-19 on their return, using ‘lateral flow tests’.
• It is not compulsory to take these tests, but the Government’s health advice is that effective testing helps stop the virus spreading, particularly asymptomatically in the community.
• Lateral flow testing means students with no symptoms can be identified swiftly and they will then isolate along with peers and staff who are in close contact.
• Any Student testing positive will be immediately isolated, and parent/carers will be asked to collect their child and isolate them at home for 10 days.
• We would appreciate full support for the testing as we believe it is key to reducing spread during the coming months.
• If you give consent to testing in the first two weeks, going forward you will be provided by us with home testing kits.
• We will update you further on home-testing kits once we have communication from the Department for Education.
• Students who test positive for COVID-19 must not attend school for at least 10 days from the day their symptoms started (or the date of their positive test if they were not showing symptoms).
• Students who are in close contact with positive cases will also need to self-isolate.
• The school will retain a small testing site for those unable to test at home. Our staff will also be given twice weekly home tests.
• Lateral flow tests are quick and easy to administer, using a swab of your throat and nose. Results take around half an hour from testing and will be shared directly with staff and students participating. Our trained staff oversee the swab process.

In School Mask Requirements

The Government has recommended the use of face masks indoors – including in classrooms – unless two-metre social distancing can be maintained.

• Students will not be required to wear their masks for practical PE lessons.
• This policy will be reviewed over the Easter holidays so will be in place until at least the end of this term. It applies to students, staff and visitors (including parents), unless they are exempt from wearing one.
• We, therefore, encourage all students and parents to ensure they have a suitable number of face masks for the resumption of school the week commencing Monday 8 March.
• Where families are unable to provide, we will provide disposable masks. We remain absolutely committed to being entirely COVID alert, and we shall continue to adhere to stringent health and safety measures.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we collectively handle the challenges posed by COVID-19.

I will write to you again soon once I have more information.

Yours sincerely

Stuart Rees
Principal

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