31st December 2020Andrew Gray

Start of term arrangements – UPDATED 31.12.20

 

Following the government announcement yesterday please find below our updated arrangements for the start of term:

Week commencing

Monday 4th January

      • School is closed to all year groups
      • Remote learning will be available to all students in all year groups. All students will be expected to attend online

Monday 11th January

      • School is open to year 11 and year 13
      • Remote learning will be available to all other students. All students will be expected to attend online.

Monday 18th January

    • School is open to all students

The information above is subject to change depending on further government announcements. We look forward to welcoming all students back into school at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime please read the important information below about remote learning.

I know that many parents will be frustrated that further school time will be missed, especially if your child has had to self isolate at points this term. However, fortunately at Burnside, remote learning means that students can access their normal timetabled lesson online with their teacher. Students will be able to follow their normal timetable online from home. Students will be sent an email directly with further information.

If your child does not have IT access at home please contact the school so that we can support.

  • Further information on free school meals will follow for the parents of children not in school in the first week.
  • If you require a critical worker/vulnerable child place for school in the first week please contact c.jenkins@burnsidecollege.org.uk.

Testing

The government has made a number of announcements about mass testing in schools. We are pleased that the government is putting plans in place to ensure that schools are as safe as they can be and that students and staff have access to rapid testing.

However, I do have to make clear to parents that it is highly unlikely any significant testing will take place in school in the first weeks of the term.

We currently have no equipment or tests in school, nor do we have any information when this will be delivered. We have no staff qualified or trained to administer tests and no facilities set up for testing to take place. As Iā€™m sure you will appreciate, it will take some time to put in place safely the staff and equipment that is necessary to roll this out.

Further information will follow on this in January and when testing is available in school it will require parental consent.

Please contact the school on office@burnsidecollege.org.uk if you would like to discuss any of this information in more detail. The school will be closed from today for the Christmas break so it may be Monday 4th before you receive a response. Apologies once again for the timescale for this which is out of the schoolā€™s hands.