Information & Updates for Parents/Carers regarding COVID-19

Useful Documents & Links

Online Learning Guides:

21 July 2021: Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Carers,

As we reach the end of this summer term, we look forward to a few weeks where we can re-charge after a further extraordinary year for the School, our families, and our communities. It is also timely that I relay some details to you as we keep September on the horizon.

Please find more details included in this letter. Further details have also been emailed to all families directly.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Colin Townsend

Principal

16 July 2021: Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Carers,

As we head towards our end of term on Wednesday 21 July at 13.10, I write to offer clarity on school operations and expectations for the three School days ahead – with reference to Covid-secure health and safety in the run up to the summer break.

Whilst after step-4 of the Government’s roadmap, Governors support that we keep in place all control measures mapped out through out present risk assessment for the final few days of term. This will include the use of face coverings, and in the event of a positive case the School’s identification of close contacts. In that eventuality close contacts identified by the School will be sent home as is presently the case, to engage with home-learning, and self-isolate up to and including the end of term but not thereafter (unless you are contacted separately by NHS Test and Trace).

Leaders at the School are putting plans in place for the start of term in September – and across next week (commencing 19 July) we shall communicate all of our arrangements to you.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Colin Townsend

Principal

22 June 2021: Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Carers,

We continue to monitor local circumstances in relation to Covid-19. You may be aware that the Department of Health and Social Care has recently recognised Birmingham as an area for additional support to tackle the Delta variant of coronavirus.

One aspect of this is the discretion for schools to reintroduce face coverings if it is decided appropriate. We have in recent days seen and responded to an increase in Covid-19 cases. The School’s Audit Committee of Governors met yesterday and supported a recommendation that, as we have had in place previously, we ask pupils and students to return to wearing face coverings in communal areas of the site and classrooms for the time being – unless there are personal reasons that prevent this.

Governors will be guided by any changes to national or local advice in deciding when to remove this control measure within our risk assessment. This might be at any next national roadmap milestone, such as 19 July, or when Birmingham as a city is removed from being an area for additional support.

Therefore, as you previously have, please supply your child with a plain face covering for wearing at School from Wednesday 23 June 2021, until further notice.

I appreciate your continued support for our School community.

Kind regards,

Colin Townsend

Principal

12 May 2021: Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Carers,

Linked to the national roadmap which outlines certain responses to different stages of the coronavirus pandemic, there has this week been an announcement about the use of face coverings in schools moving forward.

Considering our own School risk assessment and our current educational activities and priorities, including assessments for our year 11 and year 13 cohorts, we shall be asking that pupils, students, and staff continue the use of face coverings in classrooms and communal spaces up to and including Thursday 20 May next week – a few days beyond the 17 May milestone outlined nationally.

Please be reminded that Friday 21 May is one of our staff Professional Development Days, a non-attendance day for pupils and students.

In line with Department for Education and Public Health England guidance, and from Monday 24 May face coverings will no longer be recommended for pupils and students in classrooms or communal areas. Face coverings will also no longer be recommended for staff in classrooms. We do however recognise that for some individuals, the wearing of a face covering has become habitual and might bring a degree of personal confidence and reassurance ongoing – and where chosen we shall allow that plain face coverings are permitted optionally for the time being.

The current guidance also recognises looking ahead that face coverings in schools may be reintroduced for temporary periods – in response to localised outbreaks, including virus variants of concern. I would therefore ask that you ensure ongoing that your child has a covering with them in School still, in case we find ourselves in that context.

It is important to stress, and I request your help with reinforcing this with your child, that whilst we are soon able to relax the use of face coverings within the School’s system of controls, other preventative measures such as hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene (coughing/sneezing into a tissue), keeping social distance where possible, and not attending School if symptoms develop, remain in place. We shall also continue to ensure good ventilation in learning and work spaces.

Thank you for your support and partnership ongoing, as we continue to balance safety, provision, and education in the best way possible.

Whilst writing, and for our year 11 parents/carers attention only, please be aware that on Friday this week there is a science assessment scheduled which will end unusually at 16.15 (or 16.45 for pupils eligible for additional assessment time) – so your child may arrive home a little later than normal on that day.

Eid Mubarak to our families and friends who are celebrating this week.

Kind regards,

Colin Townsend

Principal