Weekly Update - 21st January 2022

As you are aware, we had to take the difficult decision to close the school on Thursday and Friday this week, due to significant issues with our heating and hot water system.  I am sure you will appreciate that this is never a decision that is taken lightly, and would only ever be made in the most extreme circumstances.  I would like to commend our students, the vast majority of whom quickly adapted and engaged with online learning.  I would also like to thank you for your understanding and support.

I am pleased to say that the issue has been identified and is being resolved.  Therefore, the school will open as normal on Monday 24^th January.  Although the building will be heated, please remind students to bring a coat to wear outside at break and lunchtime, particularly as the weather is expected to remain cold next week.

In accordance with the recently revised Government guidance, students will no longer be required to wear face-coverings in the classroom from Monday 24^th, and these will not need to be worn in school at all from Thursday 27^th January.  However, students may still be asked to wear face-coverings on school transport; this will be a decision for the transport provider.  Changes have also been introduced to the requirements for self-isolation.  If your child shows a positive result from their regular LFD test, they no longer need to follow this up with a PCR test.  They should self-isolate for 5 days and carry out a further LFD test on day 5.  If this is negative, a repeat test should be carried out on the morning of day 6 and if this remains negative, students can then return to school on that day.  Further advice and guidance can be found at: www.gov.uk under Coronavirus (Covid-19).

We look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Monday, and wish you all a safe and enjoyable weekend in the meantime.