Facebook Twitter Instagram

Information On Face-To-Face Support For Year 12 Students From Monday 15th June

Download Student Sixth Form Timetable

All children, young people, parents, carers or any visitors, such as suppliers, MUST not enter the education or childcare setting if they are displaying any symptoms of coronavirus (following the COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection)

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

I can now confirm further details of the plans we have put in place to enable our Year 12 students to receive face-to-face support at college from Monday 15th June. We recognise that a return to the college environment for staff and students will undoubtedly cause anxiety for many. We would like to inform you that we have taken considerable steps and sought advice in line with the Government guidance to enable the safest possible return to the education environment for our students and staff. Staff will attend the Academy prior to the return of students so that they are fully aware of the new safety measures that we have put in place.

The priorities we are working towards are:

  • Ensuring a safe and hygienic school environment for all of our students and staff, and their families.
  • Supporting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of our students.
  • Enabling a safe and happy return to college, whilst alleviating unnecessary worry and stress that students and parents may have about academic work and future progression.
  • A gradual and safe movement back towards normal routines.

The government has recommended that all students in Year 12 receive some face-to-face support prior to the summer break, whilst stipulating that no more than 25% of the cohort can attend on any one day. We have put together a rolling rota that will enable our students to access some full days of face-to-face support with their subject specialist teachers. The full rota is available on the sixth form website, and will also be shared with students via the college e-mail system, and we ask that they check this carefully so that they know when they are expected in college. Where classes have been split, students will be informed of which session they should attend via their e-mail. Students should not attend college on days when they are not due to be in.

Daily Arrangements

On each of the days that students are in college, they will have a morning session (10am-12pm) and an afternoon session (1pm-3pm) for one of their subjects. One of these will be a teacher-led session, which all students should attend, and the other will be a supervised study session, during which students can study independently with the support of their subject teacher available if required. The supervised study sessions will also provide opportunity for students to discuss with staff any areas of concern that they may have, or issues such as coursework. Online learning will continue to be the primary means of education during this time, but we believe these face-to-face sessions will provide invaluable support for students, and encourage them to attend wherever possible.

We have put in place the following measures in order to make our college environment as safe as possible:

  • The numbers attending college on any one day will be limited to small clusters, and each cluster will contain no more than 12 students. In most cases, the clusters will be much smaller than this.
  • Students will only have contact with one teacher per subject, and they will remain with this teacher throughout the day. This teacher will not be teaching any other students in the Academy.
  • New signage throughout the site to remind students of the importance of social distancing.
  • Sessions will be based in the largest classrooms on site, all of which have been set up to enable social distancing.
  • All classrooms used will be thoroughly cleaned throughout the day, and classrooms and the wider college environment will be deep cleaned regularly, with a particular focus on any areas that students/ taff may come in to contact with.
  • All classrooms in use will have access to hand sanitiser, and students will be encouraged to wash/sanitise hands as they enter the classroom, at intervals during the sessions and at the end of each session.
  • There will be no access to any social areas, such as the common room, the Café, and the study rooms.
  • Students will use designated toilet facilities, with external access. These will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.
  • There will be a one-way system in place around parts of the college site in order to enable social distancing.
  • Students will not share any equipment, and will be expected to bring with them the necessary equipment/stationery that they will need for their sessions.
  • Students will be fully briefed on the new measures in place via e-mail, prior to their return to college. Subject teachers will reinforce this guidance and advice during their sessions.

Lunchtime and Refreshments

  • If students choose to remain on-site over lunchtime, Aspens Catering will be offering a limited menu of takeout food from an outside servery at the back of the main school kitchen.
  • Students can also bring their own packed lunch.
  • As the on-site Café and common room will be closed, students will be able to use the seating area outside of the Café, or, in the event of inclement weather, will be provided with a supervised indoor space.
  • Students will be able to use their account to purchase food and drink at Lunchtime. Students will be able to pay contactless.

Arrangements for Arrival and Departure

Students should arrive as usual through the Sixth Form entrance, and report immediately to the teaching block where their session is based. Students should wait outside the block, observing 2m social distancing, and will then be escorted into their designated classroom by their teacher. At the end of the day, students will be escorted out of their teaching blocks by staff and will need to leave site. Students will not be able to attend site outside of their designated sessions, and this, combined with the limited numbers of students on site each day, will significantly reduce the contact they have with others.

We politely ask parents not to enter the college site or wait outside the entrance. If a parent or carer needs to visit the college for any reason, then only one parent should attend, and they must report immediately to the Main Reception whilst observing social distancing.

Transport

We ask all young people and parents to be aware of recommendations on transport to and from educational settings. Please read the Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers Regrettably, we are unable to operate the college bus service at the present time, and we understand that this will create access issues for some of our students. Please be reassured that staff will continue to fully support any students who are unable to access college, either due to transport issues, or other concerns.

Medical Room Support

If a student is due to come in to college but is unwell for any reason and will not be attending that day, please let us know by 9.00am by ringing 01472 500 500.

Should any students become unwell with potential symptoms of Covid-19 during the day, they will be taken to a temporary Medical Room within the Sixth Form, and you will be contacted. They will be supported by a first-aider wearing suitable PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), and if necessary, their temperature may be taken and they may be isolated until you are able to collect them or they are able to leave site safely.

If any student or household member shows symptoms of Covid-19, you should follow the Government guidelines on self-isolating and testing, and inform the college.

Safeguarding

If a student is unable to attend college then please ensure you inform us in the usual way: via calling Reception, using the MyEd app or emailing Tollbar enquiries email account. In line with Government guidance, if we become concerned in relation to potential exposure to COVID-19, we will contact parents/carers immediately.

We appreciate you taking the time to read through all of the information in this letter, and feel it is important that you fully understand the arrangements that we have put in place in order to provide a safe learning environment for both staff and students. Whilst we are keen to welcome Year 12 back into the Academy, the safety of staff and students is our priority. In order to minimise the risk of the spread of infection, we also ask that social distancing is observed by our students and their families, both at home and in the community, as per Government guidelines. All students will be contacted via college e-mail with further details of the days on which they are expected in college, and we will, of course, update you accordingly if there are any additional amendments to the plans that we have outlined in this letter.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Sixth Form Leadership Team should you have any queries or concerns that you may wish to discuss.

Yours faithfully
Caroline Yates

Principal

Please also see below for further information regarding Government guidelines.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

Thinking Of Becoming A Teacher?

Apply Today

Principal

Mr N J Whittle
Top