Wednesday 3rd March 2021
Dear Parents and Carers,
Lateral Flow Testing in College
To maintain social distancing on return to college, we have had to organise a staggered entry to college on both days. Students are required to complete their voluntary lateral flow tests before attending classes and the planning of schedules is currently being finalised.
Appointments will be sent out to students using Google Chat messaging this week. Year 13 students due to return on Monday 8th March, should receive their allocated appointment time for Monday by Wednesday afternoon. Year 12 students should receive their individual appointment times by Thursday afternoon for testing that will take place on their return on Tuesday 9th March.
The consequence of this staggered start for Year 13 on Monday and Year 12 students on Tuesday, is that teaching and learning is going to be disrupted, with some students not invited on site until early afternoon. The Faculty leaders are planning project based work set in Google classroom to accommodate learning activities that can be accessed by students either waiting at home or once in college. Once a student has completed their LFT and has a negative result, they will be able to continue attending lessons for the remainder of the day. The teacher will be present in lessons, to welcome students back, but the lesson will not be formally delivered on these days so that students do not feel disadvantaged if they arrive later in the day.
Part of the delivery in the Life skills tutorial this Wednesday afternoon will be focused on ensuring all students have registered on the NHS app and watching a walkthrough video of how the testing occurs at college, to make students aware of the process and to allow the opportunity to ask questions.
If any student is showing symptoms of COVID 19 on the day of the test next week, they should not attend and you should book a PCR test and the household should self isolate. Please let us know as soon as possible if this is the case, as we will continue to track student absences from COVID.
If a student has tested positive for COVID 19 in the last 90 days, it is possible they could produce a positive result on the LFT test. The advice is that any student who is within 90 days of a positive result should not carry out a LFT test until 90 days have expired. We are happy to accommodate tests for students in this position but please note: if the result is positive then isolation guidelines must be followed.
Nicky Miller or Rebecca Anderson will be making contact with a small group of students to offer a lateral flow test on Friday. Parents / Carers and students will be contacted individually if this is the case.
The second and third lateral flow tests will be scheduled in college lesson time up until the 16th March. It is anticipated there will be less disruption to lessons and students will be able to complete their tests more efficiently. We are planning to test Year 13 again on Thursday 11th and Monday 15th March. Year 12 will have their additional tests on Friday 12th and Tuesday 16th March. On these days, students will come to college for their normal timetabled lessons.
Details about home testing kits will be shared with parents/ carers and students next week.
Finally, if there are any changes to contact details, please can you inform the office immediately. It is really important that we can get hold of parents if we need to contact you urgently if a student has a positive test or they become unwell on site.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Yours faithfully.
Louise Henderson
Vice Principal
