Schools reopening 8 March 2021

For Lateral flow testing guidance and videos, Click HERE.

We have now read the detailed guidance from the Government regarding the reopening of schools from Monday 8 th March. Secondary schools have been directed to ensure that mass testing takes place as students return and before they attend any lessons. We have also been informed that students will do three lateral flow tests in our testing centre before receiving their home testing kits so that they are clear about how to swab and complete the test.

The testing of more than 1400 students three times is logistically quite challenging and our experience from the testing of our key worker and vulnerable students suggests that the first time they do this takes much longer than subsequent tests. Therefore we will need to invite the students back to school gradually during the week, taking into account those who arrive on buses each day.

We have produced a number of guides to help students with these lateral flow tests one of which can be accessed on YouTube via the following link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oUacyIlgQU) and an attached PowerPoint. Could you also reassure your children that this is an easy process which takes no more than 5 to 10 minutes to complete. However, if you have any queries regarding testing these should be directed to and we will respond as soon as we are able.

Our plan is that Year 13 and 12 students will be invited to attend and test prior to coming back to school on Thursday 4 th and Friday 5 th March and will then return to lessons on Monday 8 th (Year 13s) and Wednesday 10 th March (Year 12s). The specific details for this will be sent to the students individually on Monday.

Years 7 to 11 will return one year group each day with Year 11 attending on Monday 8 th March, Year 10 on Tuesday, Year 9 on Wednesday, Year 8 on Thursday and Year 7 on Friday 12 th March. Those arriving on school buses will go straight to the Hollick Hall for testing before returning to lessons whilst the remaining students will be invited in for set testing times during the day. The exact details for this will be sent to each year group individually next week on Tuesday.

Can I remind you that as well as all of the other control measures in place before Christmas, students will be additionally required to wear their face masks as soon as they come onto the school site and in lessons and can only remove these whilst sitting down to eat or drink. This requirement will be reviewed by the Government at Easter.

During this week those school staff involved in the testing process may not be able to attend so many live lessons though work will continue to be set except for the day that the students return. Our current provision for key worker and vulnerable students will continue up to the day prior to the return of that year group.

We have also received guidance on the determination of GCSE and A-Level grades this summer and I will be writing separately to those students that this affects at the start of next week. As ever, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely
Iain Massey
Headteacher