The following message was sent out to parents on Friday 14 May 2021:
We are just dropping you a line to update you on how our COVID measures and approach will change over the coming weeks with the government’s roadmap.
Facemasks
The government’s recommendation for students to wear face masks has been withdrawn so there is no direction to wear them in school from Monday 17 May.
Even so, we would be happy for children to wear them until the end of term if this makes them feel safer.
Equally, where Year bubbles are not always maintained for sustained periods, such as travelling on buses, then there remains a logic for them to be worn.
We appreciate that families will have different views on this, but we have always took the line that we follow the Department for Education’s recommendations, and this time will be no exception. Nonetheless, we would recommend caution in day-to-day life and will make changes should government advice alter.
Other COVID Measures
All other COVID measures will be retained including our one-way system, Year group bubbles, bubbled zone areas, hand sanitation, staggered entry / dismissal and so on.
We will look again as we reach the next stage of roadmap changes in mid-June.
Matt Allman, Headteacher, added: “We are keeping a close eye on developments with the Indian variant and consult DfE advice daily. We are hoping there is no tightening of measures but will support them if they are necessary. We have an important job in seeing our Year 11s and 13s through their final few days, and then plan to immediately steer all that capacity into the other Year groups. Things remain tough for us all and we are doing all we can to help out students remain on an even keel.”
