Year 7 re-joined us on Tuesday 25 August for their delayed transition day. The details of this day can be read here.
On Wednesday 26 August all other students attended, they had an opportunity to meet their new class mates, spend time learning about the mitigations we have in place and start normal lessons. The letter from Mr Williams regarding the detail of this can be read here.
The Principal has written a number of blogs and videos regarding the College’s response to the lock down which remain relevant and worth a look if you haven’t already. https://spwilliams13.wordpress.com
We have also written a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) which aims to answer questions which have been asked by a number of staff or parents and we will update this as we continue to refine our approach.
Should students and staff wear face coverings?
The use of face coverings is now required for staff or students at the College when not in formal lessons or working socially distanced in offices during the period of national lockdown, starting Thursday 5 November until further notice. For more information please read the following letter that was issued to staff and parents. Letter from Mr Williams re Covid update 3.11.20
In addition, some staff and students need to wear PPE at all times because of their particular circumstances. Staff have been asked to continue to remain 2 m away from students which specifically mitigates the need for face coverings in class. There will be occasions when staff need to come closer that 2m, for example to support individual students, except in emergencies eg for first aid they will alway seek permission from the student before doing so. In addition, they will wear a face covering and will request that students do the same. This will only be for short periods of time, for example, to give critical feedback and if students do not wish to wear a face covering or do not have one staff will remain 2 m away unless it is an emergency situation.
If there is a significant change in the number of infections or government advice changes we will review our current position and update parents accordingly.
Will extra-curricular clubs be offered?
We are gradually reintroducing clubs once we are satisfied that our risk assessments are robust enough. We have already started clubs in art, sport, war hammer and roleplaying. In addition electives, albeit, reduced in nature have resumed since the start of term. We are actively considering wider opportunities in music and performance but by their nature these activities are proving more challenging to risk assess. In addition, our music, academic and sports scholars programme will shortly resume. We will notify parents of new opportunities using email and xpressions in the usual way.
Will remote learning be offered to students who to stay at home as result of illness?
Prior to lockdown, classwork was not routinely set for students who were absent. However, in order to keep students’ learning on track as a result of any absence we have changed this approach. In addition to prep, classwork is now being set by the end of each working day by teachers on SMHW so that those who are absent, whether COVID–19 related or not, will be able to do their classwork as well as prep, if they are well enough. If students struggle with the work or need further help, then please ask them to email the teacher directly in the usual way but be aware that teachers are unlikely to be able to respond immediately because of their usual teaching commitments. Students should move onto another piece of work until they receive the help they need.
Once the student returns to College, teachers will review their work and, if the student was not well enough to finish it, teachers will give the student a reasonable time frame to complete it. Routine procedures will follow, such as catch-up sessions, if further time is needed and we will contact you in that event.
If the student is struggling with their workload, there will be a 1:1 meeting with a member of the Intervention Team who will produce a plan to support the student. Interventions may include additional work in lessons, withdrawal from non-core lessons and morning or afternoon catch-ups.
A chart showing the College’s process to maintain the student’s learning during absence can be found here.
What should I do if my child has symptoms of Covid-19?
If your child is exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 you should arrange for them to be tested. If the test if negative they should return to College, if it is positive you need to inform the College immediately so that we can take appropriate action.
What happens in my child’s lessons if a member of staff needs to isolate as a result of Covid-19 symptoms?
If they are well enough, then they will set work on SMHW and then if appropriate join the lesson virtually using Teams. An additional member of staff will be deployed to support the teacher delivering the virtual lesson from home.
What happens if a parents or visitor need to attend the College site?
We are only allowing visitors to site for exceptional reasons and you should not come onto the premises unless you have been invited to do so specifically. Anyone who attends site without an agreed appointment will not be allowed to enter the site. If it is necessary to come into the building please read this short information page (here) which summarises the steps we will take to keep you and our community safe. You should ensure you have brought a face covering as this will be required for you to enter our premises.
Will there be progress evenings?
Yes, you will be invited to meet with your child’s teachers as usual using the on-line booking system but the meeting itself will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. Further information will be issued prior to each evening.
What happens if there is a rise in the number of infections?
We will follow the government guidance which was recently published. It is reassuring that the government has confirmed that closing schools will be a last-resort. We have adapted this guidance to develop our own contingency plans which are outlined here:
Letter from Mr Williams regarding Covid-19 Contingency 8.9.20The government’s detailed guidance around tier 2 rota system:
What are the timings of the start and end of the College day?
We have reverted to our usual 8 am opening time. This has allowed a more staggered start to the College day and supported students who arrive early on buses or whose parents need to drop them early to attend work. All students will need to leave the building at the end of their last lesson unless requested to remain by a member of staff (for catch-up, intervention or extra-curricular work) or as a key worker child when after College care has been requested.
Why are students moving between classrooms?
We want students to have as normal a return to College as possible where they can access specialist teaching and the resources necessary to enable that. By students moving to specialist rooms it will allow students to resume practical lessons in Art, Design Technology, to use IT facilities and science practical work. If we did not take this approach teaching would be very limited and very reliant on worksheets and less engaging or, appropriate activity.
If students stayed in the same room all day it would also make a calm day more challenging to maintain as staff would inevitably arrive at lessons late and then need to prepare the room for a lesson.
The change of lessons will give students a short break as they walk around the building. We are fortunate to have a new building that was designed with corridors that are at least twice the width of a typical school. These are complemented by outside spaces that are also used by students to move around the building. In addition, the one-way system will ensure everyone is moving in the same direction, further mitigating the risk.
All students are asked to use sanitiser before every lesson and antiseptic wipes are available in every room to wipe down equipment and surfaces as needed.
How were the social bubbles in Years 7, 8 and 9 determined?
To ensure the safety of students we have decided the best way to mitigate risk is to have social bubbles of around 30 students who will have all of their lessons together. They will stay together throughout the day, including at social and eating times. This is so that we reduce the risk of coming into contact with anyone outside of their bubble which would increase the risk of transmission. It will also mean if we have a case of Covid-19 only that bubble will need to isolate.
In Year 8 these have been created to ensure that students continue with the foreign language they have already been studying – this is the only subject where the curriculum differs between students. The Year 9 students have been grouped according to their language choice and maths ability, wherever possible. This has not been straightforward and classes are full so it is not possible to move any children from their allocated bubble.
These groups will remain in place until the Government relaxes the safety precautions as the virus abates. Unfortunately, in these difficult times we have no choice but to act in this way to help ensure a safe return which minimises the risk of an outbreak, whilst allowing specialist teaching to take place.
What will happen at social times once students have finished eating? Will they need to stay in their bubble?
Once students have finished eating they will need to leave as soon as possible and either go back to their classroom or, whilst weather permits use one of our outside spaces where social distancing is more easily maintained. They should not break their social bubble or be in groups that are greater than six in total.
Should students stay in their bubbles when travelling to and from college?
Yes. If walking with friends they should either be with siblings or with one other from their bubble. Under the national lockdown students who travel in groups larger than a pair are breaking the guidance issued by the police. They should also show courtesy to others, ensuring that social distancing rules are adhered to.
Are staff allocated to social bubbles?
No, staff will be keeping to social distancing rules and will remain at least 2 metres away from each other and students. If they need to come closer than 2 metres then additional measures including face coverings and gloves will be used.
What will happen if a student breaks the rules around social bubbles or other aspects of following good hygiene and social distancing?
In the first instance we will support them to understand why these rules are so important and ask them to correct their behaviour putting in place a risk assessment to support students to understand further our expectations. If however, they persist in breaking the rules (which will put others potentially at risk), then we will use sanctions including detaining them at the end of the day, isolating them from their peers and engaging with you their parents for support. If ultimately they will not comply, we will have no choice but to exclude students and, in exceptional cases, I will consider permanent exclusion as a last resort. We hope this will not be necessary and the usual calm but busy environment where staff and students work well together will continue to be the norm. Further information on the College’s Student Behaviour Management Policy can be found here.
Our exclusion policy can be read by clicking here.
If having read through all of this you have any further questions please contact the college using email: office@catmosecollege.com.
