10 March 2021
Dear Parent/Carer
We are delighted to have all our students back!
It has been so nice to see all our students returning to College and I think we all relish the opportunity to return to some kind of routine. I do think that the vast majority of students have done extremely well with their remote learning; however, I am sure we all agree, that there is no substitute for face-to-face learning in College. I know from talking to many of you that although you have enjoyed many aspects of supporting the remote learning of your children at home, you are also extremely pleased that they are now back in College!
Lateral Flow Testing
I must congratulate all the students who have taken Lateral Flow Tests this week for their extremely mature and co-operative approach. The testing arrangements went extremely smoothly, and all first tests have now been completed. The second and third tests will be conducted over the next six College days as set out below:
- Thursday 11 March and Tuesday 16 March Year 11 and Sixth Form
- Friday 12 March and Wednesday 17 March Years 9 and 10
- Monday 15 March and Thursday 18 March Years 7 and 8
Each form group will be allocated a time slot for their test and released from lessons to attend. Students will be told the time of their test during registration. Students should not eat or drink anything other than water in the 30 minutes before their test. This may mean that some students are unable to eat at break time but lunch breaks will be unaffected.
After the three on site tests have been completed, home testing kits will be distributed for you to administer at home. Further information about home testing will be issued in due course once we have received our delivery of test kits from the Department for Education.
I would like to thank the many parents who volunteered to help us with the testing and my apologies, due to the high numbers, that we could not take everybody up on their kind offer of assistance.
Access to Symptom-free Home Testing Kits for Households – Information from Surrey County Council
If you are a member of a household, childcare bubble or support bubble of a College student or of a staff member, you can get twice-weekly symptom-free tests.
The symptom-free tests for households are not available from schools or colleges. Households can use any testing offered by their employer, or book an appointment online at a symptom-free testing site, or collect a home-testing kit from a designated collection point, or if unable to travel to a site, order a kit online. You can find out more at surreycc.gov.uk/symptomfreecovidtesting.
If your child or a household or bubble member develop COVID-19 symptoms, do not use symptom-free testing. Book a free test at gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119.
Face Coverings
Can I similarly thank all parents and students for their co-operation in the wearing of face coverings inside buildings and inside classrooms. Compliance has been near 100%, subject to a very small number of valid exemptions, and it is heartening to see a real sense of care and consideration by everyone for the safety of our community.
All previous COVID-related arrangements remain in place in College such as the separate social areas, hand hygiene protocols, staggered breaks/lunchtimes, and the one-way system. Social distancing remains as the key factor in preventing transmission.
As students re-familiarise themselves with the regular use of face coverings, we would be grateful if parents and carers could remind their child(ren) of the government advice on how to safely use, remove and store face coverings which is available here:
Funeral Arrangements for Syd Hempson
Syd’s parents have informed us that, just prior to her Funeral on Monday 15 March, there will be a procession through Bagshot High Street. This will be an opportunity for friends to line the street between 2.30pm and 3.00pm to celebrate Syd’s life and say goodbye to her. We obviously want to support this occasion and therefore we will authorise any requests from parents for their sons or daughters to attend - please use the usual leave of absence procedures for this. There may be a small number of students who wish to attend the event but whose parents are not available to accompany them - please contact Miss Gulliford or Mr Cleary and we will see if we can arrange for a small group of students to attend under our supervision. The family have asked for any donations to go to the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice at:
https://sydneehempson.muchloved.com/
Dates for Your Diary
Please note the following forthcoming dates:
- Wednesday 31 March - Academic Review Day (details are within a letter issued today from Mr San Emeterio and Mrs Edwards), END OF TERM
- Thursday 1 April - INSET day
Mr Tanner - Principal