FAQS

The information below is based on the arrangements for the return to school from 8th March. This is based on the current advice from Public Health England and the Department for Education as at Friday 26th February 2021.

What are the key websites containing the official advice about returning to school?

What are the principles from the government guidelines about returning to school?

Schools must comply with health and safety law, which requires them to assess risks and put in place proportionate control measures. Schools should thoroughly review their health and safety risk assessments and draw up plans that address the risks identified using the system of controls set out below.

Essential measures include:

Minimise contact with individuals who are required to self-isolate by ensuring they do not attend the school
Ensure face coverings are used in recommended circumstances
Ensure everyone is advised to clean their hands thoroughly and more often than usual
Ensure good respiratory hygiene for everyone by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach
Maintain enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces often, using standard products, such as detergents
Consider how to minimise contact across the site and maintain social distancing wherever possible
Keep occupied spaces well ventilated
Ensure individuals wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary
Promote and engage in asymptomatic testing, where available
Promote and engage with the NHS Test and Trace process
Manage confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) amongst the school community
Contain any outbreak by following PHE local health protection team advice

How contacts are reduced will depend on the school’s circumstances and will (as much as possible) include:

Grouping children together in bubbles
Arranging classrooms with forward facing desks
Staff maintaining distance from pupils and other staff as much as possible

How and when will my child return?

Each year year group has an allocated date and time to attend school for their first Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test. These start from Thursday 4th March and the date and time for each year group is displayed on the relevant year group page on this site.
Students cannot return to in school lessons until they have produced a negative LFD test. Therefore, pupils are not able to return to lessons until they have attended their LFD test in school.
Students have been grouped into “bubbles” based upon the entire year group.
When not in lessons students will be asked to only meet in friendship bubbles of up to 6 pupils. Failure to do so will result in a sanction for failing to follow Covid-19 rules. This has been put in place to reduce the number of close contacts each pupil has outside of the classroom.
The format of the day has been communicated through the chart included on each Year group page of this site.
Students will have lessons in all subjects.

What will the start and finish of the school day look like?

There will continue to be staggered starts and finishes to the school day. Times of the day are highlighted below.
Each year group has an assigned gate and must hand sanitise on entry.
Students will make their way to the prescribed locations or form rooms as outlined at the start of the day.
You must adhere to the times allocated and arrive promptly.
If students are being dropped off, then please use surrounding side roads not the parking area adjacent to the school.

What uniform should my child wear? Do they need to wear PPE?

Full school uniform (see Uniform) is required to be worn to school (this includes blazers and school ties) in line with the school policy. Please note that it is recommended that uniform is washed as often as possible.
Children of families who are still shielding may contact school to discuss the wearing of a simplified uniform.
Currently the guidance requires the need to wear face coverings in all communal areas inside the school.
The wearing of face coverings in lessons in secondary schools is not compulsory but it has been strongly recommended as an extra precaution. Schools have a clear process, following guidelines, to ensure staff and pupils wear and dispose of masks appropriately and safely. We will review the recommendation and advice to wear face coverings in the classroom at the end of this term.
Students using public transport must wear facial coverings on these journeys.

How will classrooms be setup?

We strongly recommend that face coverings should be worn during lessons unless a pupil is exempt for medical reasons - If your child is exempt then please email Ms Goody with medical evidence. Pupils who are exempt will then be given a white lanyard to wear to indicate to staff that they are exempt.
Each classroom that will be used will be structured for 30 pupils each distanced by 1m, two chairs per desk using a seating plan.
The teacher will have a ‘space’ of 2m space at the front of the classroom around their desk and screen.
Cleaning stations will be provided for each classroom and monitored each day to ensure supplies are replenished for the next day.
Students can bring their own sanitisers but will be required to clean hands at the start and end of each lesson.
Doors, and where possible windows, will remain open at all times to minimise use of handles and increase ventilation.

Will my child be able to use their Locker?

Students will not be able to use their school lockers, they must carry their books and equipment for the day’s learning and activities.
Therefore, they will be expected to keep their mobile phones switched off in their bags as per the amended electronic devices and behaviour policies.
Students that require support with their organisation will be offered alternative storage.

How will movement around the school be managed?

Face coverings will be worn in all areas of the school indoors except for when eating in the canteen.
Movement will be very structured; an orderly one-way system will be used throughout the school with clearly marked directions to follow.
Students will walk in single file and maintain distance from each other as much as possible.
The corridor floors will be marked to support the concept of social distancing where possible.
Stairwells will have clearly marked signage for movement up and down.
Lifts will be only be available for staff on their own.
Students who would usually access the lift will be contacted by the school to discuss next steps in agreeing access.

How will lunches for students work?

Lunches will be sandwich lunches or a hot meal. Disposable plates and cutlery will be used, we will attempt to use as many recycling materials as possible.
Students must have a school lunch unless there is a medical reason which has been approved by the school.
Lunches will be served following the menu communicated by Govindas.
We will be using the touch biometric system following clean covid protocol for the first two weeks and then migrate to a card-based system.
Students will have a set rota for lunches.
Students sanitise their hands upon entry to the canteen.
Face coverings will be worn in the canteen and will only be removed when the students are sat down ready to begin eating. Face coverings will be worn when the students finish eating and are ready to leave the canteen area.
Teaching and support staff will be on duty to ensure appropriate distancing and behaviour is adhered to in the dining areas and the outside facilities.
Students will have to bring enough water for the entire day to prevent the use of water fountains. Water will be provided for any medical reasons.
Students will use designated entrance and exits to reduce the mixing of students when queuing for lunch.

How will the school be cleaned?

There will be enhanced cleaning of the school during each day with four cleaners employed during the day to clean toilets, corridors, door handles and surfaces that are commonly touched.
Hand sanitisers will be supplied in all classrooms and lidded bins to enable disposal of tissues, these will be double bagged and regularly disposed of.
CATCH IT BIN IT
Regular hand washing

What do parents/carers need to do before school?

Parents or carers must check their own children and not send them to school if they are displaying symptoms or have been in contact with anybody who has been positively diagnosed. If householders are displaying symptoms but undiagnosed they will also be asked to remain at home. Full guidance on this will be adhered to.

What happens to children who are displaying symptoms whilst at school?

Students displaying symptoms whilst at school must immediately cease to attend and not attend for at least 10 days from the day after the start of their symptoms, or the test date if they did not have any symptoms but have had a positive test (whether this was a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test).
Isolation and collection procedures continue to be followed.
The meeting room at the front of the school alongside the smaller meeting room (G04) will be utilised if required.

What asymptomatic testing will take place and how many tests will my child take? Are the tests compulsory?

Rapid testing using Lateral Flow Devices (LFD)s will support the return to face-to-face education by helping to identify people who are infectious but do not have any coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms.
For secondary school staff and pupils, we are moving to a home testing model (for pupils, following the first 3 onsite tests).
The lateral flow devices used have received regulatory approval from the MHRA for self-use. Home test kits will be available for all staff on return. Once pupils have been tested 3 times at school, they will be provided with home test kits for regular testing. Testing remains voluntary but strongly encouraged.
Individuals with a positive LFD test result will need to self-isolate in line with the guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.
Those with a negative LFD test result can continue to attend school unless they have individually been advised otherwise by NHS Test and Trace or Public Health professionals (for example as a close contact).

What will the timetable look like?

The timetable will effectively be ‘normal’ and there will continue to be two separate break times to reduce the number of students on break at the same time.
Extra-curricular clubs are able to resume from 8^th March following the government guidance. Further information regarding extra-curricular

How will PE lessons be managed?

Children will be asked to wear their P.E. kits (see Uniform) on the days they will be participating in P.E. Originally we had access to multiple changing rooms but due to the development of facilities, this is currently the most suitable way forwards.
Equipment numbered clearly - to allow students to only use their own ball (limit the touching and transfer)
Racket sports - student to pick up one shuttle/ table tennis ball and ensure they only use that equipment to be wiped down after each lesson.
GCSE equipment to be kept separate to other students.
Extra-curricular sports activities to not take place - to allow thorough cleaning
Bibs to be washed every day
Extra-curricular sports clubs and fixtures to resume as per the government guidance

How will Dance lessons be managed?

Students will not change for dance but remain in uniform.
No contact, or contact based group work.
Dancing in lines facing the front of the class in formations that follow appropriate social distance.
Teacher to remain 2 metres from the pupils at all times.
Students must wear socks

How will Drama lessons be managed?

Students work in a bubble of 3 within a 2x2 metres Square for the duration of their rotation in Drama using the register order for KS3. Each square as far as possible has an empty square next to it which is where their bags and coat go and if not students are seated side by side as the guideline allows for and a square allocated for their belongings.
KS4 are working in two support bubbles on opposite sides of the room when doing practical, theory lessons each student has their own square which is 2x2 metres.
The Drama room doors are left open to allow ventilation into the room and the Drama curtains have been moved to front of the room to aid this also.
Students sit forward facing and all dialogue is to be spoken forward and in a tone where projection is kept to a minimum and shouting also. Students also perform facing the teacher.
Students are not allowed to leave their square or mix with students in other squares, the Drama teacher is behind a line which is away from the students. There is an empty square in front of the Teacher line if the teacher has to model or demonstrate which is in line with the guidelines that the teacher can be side by side the students when needed.
Students are not given props by the teacher or allowed usage of the chairs and are not allowed to share their own props within their bubbles. Any props needed students they can be bought from home which only they must use although this is not mandatory. This includes scripts given to students, all will be given individual copies and are not to share in their bubbles- Spares will be kept by the Teacher to ensure this

How will practical subjects like Art & DT be managed?

Practical lessons to take place but pupils must use their own equipment. Equipment must not be shared.
Students will be given a clear overview of the projects and equipment required-this will be basic equipment for students in year 7-9.
Students studying GCSE level will be supported with protocols and guidance on completing portfolio work.

Will detentions take place?

Detentions will only take place on Thursday after school from 3:30-4:30pm.
The pupils will be sat in year groups and will be separated across different spaces dependent on numbers.
For further information about detentions see the Behaviour page.

How will the school communicate with parents?

We will continue to communicate every Friday through the Parent Bulletin.
Additional communications will be sent where necessary

Will there be shared use of educational equipment?

Practical lessons, other than PE, will not be using shared equipment.
Students will be communicated what they will need to bring in for Art/DT to ensure they do not share.
There will be no practical lessons for KS3 and KS4 Science lessons, if required the teacher will demonstrate. At KS5, a limited number of practical activities will be carried out to ensure that the required competencies are met.
Practical lessons for music will be allowed but cleaners will clean keyboard between lessons, Peripatetic lessons on site will not take place and practice rooms will be shut.

Will parents evenings take place?

Parent Consultation Evenings will take place through video appointments.
Parents/Carers must be in attendance as teachers will not hold video meetings with only pupils.
Appointments will be booked online using the SchoolCloud website.

Will school trips and visits take place?

The current advice is that no trips should take place.

What classroom support will be in place?

Where a Student has an Educational Health Plan and requires some additional in class support by a Teaching Assistant; the support will be socially distanced from both the teacher and the students and further supplementary guidance will be provided.

Will there be parental meetings?

Meetings will continue where possible to be conducted by telephone conversations or via a remote platform e.g. ‘Zoom’ or ‘Microsoft Teams’. Where there is no other option available we will resume with small external meetings adhering to the guidance we have received with regards to social distancing between adults.
There will be a maximum number of people invited to attend the meeting depending on the room size e.g. likely to be no more than 4 people.
Meetings will be scheduled well in advance and by appointment only. Meetings might be with parents or with professionals and external agencies only where another alternative is not possible or feasible.
Meetings will be in well ventilated rooms and there will need to be gaps of a minimum of 30 minutes in between meetings to ensure that the rooms can be thoroughly cleaned. Staff members will need to organise with the premises team in advance the cleaning requirements.
All external visitors will be required to provide detailed contact information at reception
A Covid questionnaire must be completed before attendance in school.

Will there be assemblies and gatherings?

There will be no assemblies or gatherings these will take place digitally to communicate to the students if required.
The shrine will be open but a maximum of four people at a time.

What happens to learning for any individual that have to self-isolate?

If an individual pupil is unable to attend school due to self-isolating, the following will happen:
- Pupils can access the remote learning site for relevant material
- Contact information for the relevant staff has been made available on the site should you require further guidance.
- Zoom/Google Meet details and other relevant material will be shared on Arbor for blended learning. This allows pupils to join their timetabled lessons from home.

What impact is there to the way my child travels to school?

Guidelines on the use of public transport will be followed please see links for clear guidance on use. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safertravel-guidance-for-passengers
Please see a communication from TfL on travel in London on our Travel page
Students will be strongly encouraged to walk or cycle.
Parents who do use cars will be encouraged to use local streets rather than the Whitchurch car park to drop off students.
Parents must ensure there is no sharing of private transport with children from different families or different bubbles in the same car. This includes the new smaller friendship bubbles.

Have any of the school policies been changed during this time?

The following policies have been reviewed and updates can be seen by following the links

The school risk assessment can be found on the school website.

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