Dear Parents and Carers,

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update

Following the latest Government advice, I am writing to update you on the current situation in schools. Schools have been directed to continue to operate in the normal way, apart from cancelling planned foreign trips. If your child is due to go on one of these trips, you will either already have been contacted directly (for trips scheduled for this term), or will be soon (for trips scheduled for next term).

The Government also issued new Stay at Home guidance for anyone who displays the most common symptoms of Coronavirus:

  • New continuous cough and/or
  • High temperature

Anyone with these symptoms should stay at home (self-isolate) for seven days from when the symptoms started. If your child has the symptoms, we ask you not to send them into school until the end of the seven day period. It is vital that students do not return to school before the end of this period. Please make clear in your absence message to school that the absence is because of self-isolation.

The updated Coronavirus guidance can be found using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Schools receive daily updates and guidance from Department for Education. These updates advise us on our day to day activities at this time and what steps we need to take should a member of school community test positive for Coronavirus. As stated earlier, the current advice is to continue to operate in the normal way and we will do so until advised otherwise.

As you will be aware, there has been much speculation in the media about schools being fully or partially closed during this period. Any decision to close the school will either come as a result of direct advice from Public Health England or wider measures introduced by the Government. Should school have to fully or partially close we will prioritise the continuous education for those sitting public exams this summer. Current advice is that all students are to continue with preparation for exams on the assumption these will still take place in accordance with the current exam timetables. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/updated-statement-on-coronavirus)

Staff are currently preparing and collating materials, which Year 11 and 13 students can access online, in case the school is closed. We will also provide materials for the other year groups. Specific details will be issued at a later date, if this becomes a reality.

As you know, good personal hygiene is vital in preventing the spread of the virus and so school staff continue to:

  • Remind students to wash their hands carefully and regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water.
  • Remind students that if they need to sneeze/cough, to do so carefully into disposable tissues.
  • Remind students to avoid touching their mouth nose or face as much as possible.

Posters are also displayed around school to reinforce these messages. We ask parents and carers to reiterate this message also.

We will keep you updated on any developments and thank you for your support and co-operation in this difficult situation.

Yours faithfully

Mr D Juric

Head Teacher