Monday 3rd January 2022 – Bank Holiday

Tuesday 4th January 2022 – Testing Day 1                                  
Year 8 – 9.30 am – 11.00 am
Year 10 – 11.30 am – 1.00 pm
Year 11 – 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm

Wednesday 5th January 2022 – Testing Day 2 – Year 11 only in school as normal
Year 7 – 9.30 am – 11.00 am
Year 9 – 12.30 – 2.00 pm

Thursday 6th January – All students in school

Letter from the Headteacher:

I wish all our students and their families, as well as our wider school community, a happy new year! We hope your 2022 is filled with happiness and good health

Important Updates January 2022

Omicron
In the face of additional uncertainty brought by the Omicron variant, a few additional measures have been introduced for the start of the term. Some of these are reminders from my last communication at the end of term.

Face coverings in Classrooms (Short term)
As from 4th January, The Department for Education is recommending that face coverings should be worn in classrooms and teaching spaces (in addition to communal areas) where students in year 7 and above are educated. The advice is short term only and will be reviewed on the 26 January, in line with the review on Plan B measures. Please make sure your son/daughter has a face covering with them each day. If your child is exempt, they need to be wearing their lanyard.

Testing 4th and 5th January
All secondary school students should undertake one on-site test on return to boost testing participation and help reduce transmission after a period of social mixing over the holidays. All staff and students are also strongly encouraged to test twice a week using an LFD test and to report all results to the NHS and to their setting.

NB – We have had further guidance today that even if someone has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, they are strongly encouraged to take part in the LFD testing on-site or at home once they have completed their isolation period for their prior infection.

Tuesday 4th January 2022 ‘Testing Day 1?
Year 8 – 9.30 am – 11.00 am
Year 10 – 11.30 am – 1.00 pm
Year 11 – 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm
Once students have been tested, they should leave the school site and return home. Siblings may attend together.

Wednesday 5th January 2022 Year 11 only in school ‘Testing Day 2’
Year 7 – 9.30 am – 11.00 am
Year 9 – 12.30 – 2.00 pm
Once students have been tested, they should leave the school site and return home. Siblings may attend together.

Thursday 6th January – All students back in school

Additional information

Self-solation Period
Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10 day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days. Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to school from day 8.

Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19
People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time.

Once again, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support in such challenging times.

Regards
M J Serridge
Headteacher