Heads of School Update

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/ Head of School
July 21st 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

At last, we have made it and what a year!  It certainly has proved challenging, and a year that we will remember.  There are several things we would like to update you with.  Please accept our apologies for the length of this letter.  It contains some vital information with regards to the start of next term, including the following:-

  • Staggered return
  • More detail on the lateral flow tests
  • Preparing for students’ first day back at school
  • Student zones/safety bubbles 
  • Lateral flow onsite testing – no consent
  • Lateral flow home testing
  • Changes to COVID-19 restrictions
  • Quarantine from holidays abroad
  • Drop-off by car – Cedar Road gate

Staggered Return

In-line with government guidelines, students are required to have 2 lateral flow tests on their return to school in September.   Please do not worry, this remains voluntary and I have included more detail below. 

The 1st test is done before students return to school properly.  Like we did in March, we will stagger students’ return so that we can do this safely.  The table below outlines how it will work for each year group.

Year 7 and Sixth Form

Students will come into school for their 1st test, and will remain in school for the rest of the day.

Years 8, 9, 10, 11

For their 1st test, students will come into school, take their test and then go straight home. 

Year

Date of 1st Test

Do they stay in or go home after this test?

First full day back at school

7

Friday 3rd September   

Stay in

Friday 3rd September  

8

Tuesday 7th September 

Go home

Wednesday 8th September  

9

Tuesday 7th September 

Go home

Wednesday 8th September  

10

Monday 6th September

Go home

Tuesday 7th September

11

Monday 6th September

Go home

Tuesday 7th September

12

Friday 3rd September 

Stay in

Monday 6th September

13

Friday 3rd September   

Stay in

Monday 6th September

The 2nd lateral flow test for all students will be administered onsite during their school day throughout their first full week back.

More detail on the tests:-

Year: 7

  • Date of test: Friday 3rd September  
  • Arrival gate: Bike shed gate.  Head up the main drive towards the school, and take the first left.
  • Arrival time: 8.45am
  • Where to go: We will meet your child at the bike shed gate, welcome them to the school, and escort them to their tutor groups. From there, they will be called upon for their tests.
  • Year 7 students will remain in school and term starts for them on this day (3rd September).
  • Note: Until the end of Term 1, Year 7 will finish each day at 2.55pm. 

Year: 8

  • Date of test: Tuesday 7th September 
  • Arrival gate: Reception gate
  • Arrival time for each tutor group:
    • EEKJ       8:45
    • ESMW   9:00
    • FCXH     9:15
    • FRWD    9:30
    • KDDB     9:45
    • KKRC     10:00
  • Where to go:  Edward Hyde Hall for consent checking. 
  • Year 8 students will go straight home on completion of their lateral flow test.
  • Year 8 will return on Wednesday 8th September to start the term properly. 

Year: 9

  • Date of test: Tuesday 7th September 
  • Arrival gate: Leisure Centre gate
  • Arrival time for each tutor group:
    • ECXS      12:25
    • EKXM    12:40
    • FJXF       12:55
    • FRXP      13:10
    • KDAF     13:25
    • KKJL       13:40
  • Where to go:  Edward Hyde Hall for consent checking. 
  • Year 9 students will go straight home on completion of their lateral flow test.
  • Year 9 will return on Wednesday 8th September to start the term properly.  Students have games that day so must arrive in PE kit.

Year: 10

  • Date of test: Monday 6th September 
  • Arrival gate: Cedar Road gate (back gate)
  • Arrival time for each tutor group:
    • EJXT       8:45
    • EVSL      9:00
    • FELA      9:15
    • FSER      9:30
    • HSFS      9:45
    • KSHH     10:00
  • Where to go:  Edward Hyde Hall for consent checking. 
  • Year 10 students will go straight home on completion of their lateral flow test.
  • Year 10 will return on Tuesday 7th September to start the term properly.  Students have games that day so must arrive in PE kit.

Year: 11

  • Date of test: Monday 6th September 
  • Arrival gate: Reception gate
  • Arrival time for each tutor group:
    • ENEH     12:25
    • EOJV      12:40
    • FDPL      12:55
    • FSKA      13:10
    • KJJE       13:25
    • KOJC      13:40
  • Where to go:  Edward Hyde Hall for consent checking. 
  • Year 11 students will go straight home on completion of their lateral flow test.
  • Year 11 will return on Tuesday 7th September to start the term properly. 

Year: 12/13

  • Date of test: Friday 3rd September 
  • Arrival gate: Reception, or Cedar Road gate (back gate)
  • Arrival time: 12.25pm
  • Where to go: Year 12 to go to the Lecture Theatre; Year 13 to the Tutor groups.  From there, they will be called upon for their tests.
  • Sixth Form students will remain in school and term starts for them on this day.

Preparing for School

To prepare your child for their first full day back in school, please could we ask the following:

  • Students must be in school by 8.45am.
  • They should go straight to their Tutor room, unless directed otherwise above.
  • Students will receive their school timetable in their first full day (during Tutor time).
  • Students must wear full school uniform and bring the following items: pen, pencil, purple pen, ruler, calculator. They should also bring a water bottle and their own sanitising hand-gel.
  • Hot food will be available to buy, but students can also bring a packed lunch (we are still operating on a cash system, and as a guide students should bring approximately £2.30).  Free School Meal students will receive their meal without cost.
  • Students will need to wear PE kit on the days when they have PE, Games, or Dance.  We have detailed above if students have PE or Games on their first day, so they know to arrive in PE kit.
  • Students will leave at 3.00pm, except Year 7 who will leave at 2.55pm.

Student Zones/Safety Bubbles  

To reduce impact in the Autumn (if we have to contact trace),  we have continued to allocate year groups to zones for Tutor time, breaks and lunch.  The table below shows what rooms each Tutor group is in.  I have also attached a map (Appendix 1) so you can see what this looks like.  The map will be explained to students in more detail during their first day back. 

Year

Tutor Group

Room

 

Year

Tutor Group

Room

7

ECMR

D2u

 

10

EVSL

S2

7

ELGH

D4u

 

10

EJXT

S6

7

ESSE

Learning Centre

 

10

FSER

S5

7

FMSS

D5

 

10

FELA

S2u

7

FTSF

D6

 

10

KSHH

S3u

7

FLTT

D10

 

10

KSFS

S4u

7

KASI

W2

 

11

EOJV

M3

7

KHGC

W4

 

11

ENEH

M2

7

KALS

D1

 

11

FSKA

M8

8

ESMW

E4

 

11

FDPL

M4

8

EEKJ

E6

 

11

KJJE

M5

8

FRWD

E5

 

11

KOJC

M6

8

FCXH

E7

 

12

OKXW

O1

8

KKRC

L3

 

12

OLXC

O2

8

KDDB

L1

 

12

OKAG

PA2

9

ECXS

Soc2

 

13

OTSD

O3

9

EKXM

Soc3

 

13

OMKL

PA1

9

FJXF

Soc5

 

13

OTXL

O4

9

FRXP

Soc6

 

 

 

 

9

KKJL

Soc1

 

 

 

 

9

KDAF

Soc4

 

 

 

 

Lateral Flow Onsite Testing – No Consent

If you do not give consent for your child to be tested onsite as they return to school in September, please could I ask you to complete this short Microsoft Form here.

Lateral Flow Home Testing

The government has advised that there is no need for students to continue to test throughout the school holiday.  However, from September, the government has advised that lateral flow home testing continues again.   Please do not worry about this, we will issue tests like we did this year during students’ 2nd lateral flow test.  We will write to you in the first few days in September to update you regarding this.

Changes to COVID-19 Restrictions

As we have all heard there are to be significant changes to the Covid restrictions currently in place from 19th July (step 4 in the Government’s Covid recovery plan).  We really want all of our staff and families to be able to relax and enjoy the Summer holidays. However, as we have stated before, the virus takes no rest over the holidays and we do stress the need to continue to practice good hand hygiene, keep occupied spaces well ventilated and follow public health advice on testing and self-isolation.

Just as you would do now, please continue to book a PCR test for your child if they show any symptoms of Covid-19 or are feeling generally under the weather. Tests can be booked at  https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test, or by calling 119.   If your child has symptoms and if the test returns positive your child would need to self-isolate.  The Public Health Team would then be responsible for tracking and tracing any known contacts.

In the ten-day period before the return to school in September, if your child has tested positive and is self-isolating, they must not return to school on the first day of term if this date falls within their ten-day self-isolation period.  It is important that we are made aware of this situation or of any child who is awaiting a test result and therefore self-isolating.  These pupils will not be able to return to school on their staggered date as per above.  In this instance, please contact our Attendance Officer on 01225 762686, and leave us a message.  We will then contact you to discuss the situation and confirm the earliest return to school date for your child.

Please do not send your child to school on the first day of term if they have any of the Covid symptoms or are feeling generally under the weather.  In this situation it is essential you book your child in for a PCR test and await the result.  Again, please contact our Attendance Officer on 01225 762686, and leave us a message. We will then come back to you.

Uniform Amnesty

We are always offering support to our families in the community, sometimes financial, to ensure they can dress and equip their child ready for the school day.  If you have any parts of our uniform that you know longer need, we would really appreciate it if you could drop it into our Reception.  We will then ensure it is put to good use.

Quarantine from Holidays Abroad

If you find you need to quarantine your child following a holiday abroad, please do let us know by contacting our Attendance Officer on 01225 762686, and leave us a message.

Drop-off by Car – Cedar Road Gate (back gate)

Even though students have been allocated separate gates to enter and exit the site, if you wish to drop off or pick-up your child using the Cedar Road gate, you might find it quicker than the front of the site.  This can be congested at times.  

Again, it has been a year, and we do need to take a well-deserved rest.  Please do contact us, on the following contact details if you have any queries or concerns.

All the best, and have a lovely Summer break!

 

 

Rob Price                                      Craig Turze                               David Cade

Executive Headteacher            Head of School                         Head of School

07732800899                               07511700837                             07874796897

Rob Price - rbp@clarendonacademy.com            

Craig Turze - cxt@clarendonacademy.com      

David Cade - dec@clarendonacademy.com