Last Day of Term and Information on September Return
14th July 2021
Dear Parent,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well. This has been an academic year like no other and I want to thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to Blessed Edward’s. As you know the college year ends on Friday 16th July at 12.30p.m. Buses have been arranged for this time and we would urge your child to go straight home.
Following the announcement from the Secretary of State for Education on 6th July and the subsequent confirmation from the Prime Minister on 12th July we are now able to share our plans for the return of students in September 2021. College will re-open for staff on Thursday 2nd September for a teacher training day. Year groups will then return on the following dates.
Friday 3rd September New Year 7 students only
Monday 6th September Year 10 and 11 return. Year 7 also in college.
Years 8 and 9 will learn remotely using their google
classrooms from this academic year.
Year 8 and 9 students will set up new google classrooms with their new teachers once they have returned.
Tuesday 7th September All year groups in college.
Students should continue to arrive between 8.30 and 8.45 a.m.
The reason for this staggered start to the year is that we are being asked to set up our Asymptomatic Testing Site again as we did in March. Students, whose parents consented in March, will take two lateral flow tests. If you did not consent previously but would like to do so now, please let us know by emailing covid@blessededward.co.uk
The two tests will take place across the first week up to and including Friday 10th September. Students will then be provided with test kits and will be encouraged to continue home testing throughout September.
From September the DfE have said that there will be no year group bubbles and no compulsory wearing of face masks including on school buses. This of course is all dependant on the number of cases in the local area. If your child still wishes to wear a face mask in school, please let us know and we will allow them to do so. Please be assured that we will also support students wearing face masks on buses if their parents want them to.
The college will be keeping certain control measures in place. We will continue to maximise ventilation in classrooms, encourage the regular washing and sanitising of hands, routinely clean desks in classrooms and carry out regular cleaning of high contact areas around the college site such as handrails and door handles.
I am cautiously optimistic about what September will bring for our students, but I do not believe we are fully out of the woods. It is pleasing to see that schools will no longer play a part in track and trace as this should mean significantly less disruption to students’ learning. This year has highlighted the importance of school not just in terms of our students’ academic studies but also in terms of their well-being, fitness and opportunities to live life to the full. So, until then can I wish you all a happy and safe summer and I look forward to seeing you once again in September.
Yours sincerely,
Greg McClarey
Headteacher