School Update 16 March 2020 (COVID 19)
We continue to monitor the situation closely and respond in a timely fashion to Government advice and declarations by the World Health Organisation. Our priority is to make decisions in the best interests of all at the same time as preserving our core responsibilities; keeping lessons functioning as normal and preparing students in the usual way for the summer external examination season. We have also made decisions that will provide students with more protected lesson and tutor time for the foreseeable future.
We will continue to provide regular updates on the website as we adapt to circumstances and central government directives.
We have taken the decision to postpone the following non-essential elements of the school day:
- To provide more time in ‘form time’ to allow students to undertake school work by temporarily postponing school and year assemblies.
- To postpone the Year 12 Blundell Lecture scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 March and the Year 12 Higher Education Forum on 1 April.
- To postpone all elements of the Founders Day celebrations on Friday 20 March, including the Spring Founders Day Concert.
The Year 9 and Year 12 internal examinations, the Maths Kangaroo, the ‘Silver’ DoE expedition and some sports commitments (except Founders Day matches) are scheduled to take place as planned. Students should prepare for internal examinations in the usual way.
Parents are urged to make family decisions regarding the health and possible isolation of their children and to follow the necessary advice from Public Health England regarding treatment and actions to manage ill health; all people with flu-like symptoms - a fever above 37.8° or a persistent new cough – should stay at home. A useful link to the NHS online assessment is available here.
A further school update will be provided on the 17 March.
W J Oakes
16 March 2020
