It is with great pleasure that we will be welcoming your children back to school this week as we all look forward to a return to ‘normal’. However, in light of our ongoing commitment to managing the risks associated with Covid 19, please note the information below, some of which is new and some that you will already have received in previous communications.

The timings for the return to school and induction sessions this week are as follows:

Year 7: Thursday 3^rd and Friday 4^th September - 8.45am until 2.45pm

Year 8: Thursday 3^rd September – 1.00pm until 3.00pm

Year 9: Thursday 3^rd September – 10.00am until 12.00pm

Year 10: Friday 4^th September – 1.00pm until 3.00pm

Year 11: Friday 4^th September – 10.00am until 12.00pm

From w/c 7^th September, the timings of the school day will be as follows:

Years 7 and 8 will be from 8.45am – 2.45pm

Years 9, 10 and 11 will be from 9.10am – 3.00pm. Please note, form time for Key Stage 4 will now be at the end of the day so students must be in school in time for Period 1, which starts at 9.10am. Students must be in uniform when they are in school.

Please note, to minimise the risk of infection transmission, the following restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future, or until we are advised otherwise by the government:

Lockers will not be allocated in the autumn term and if students are already in possession of a locker key, this should be returned to the school office at the earliest opportunity. As a result, it is important that your child has an appropriate school bag.

All students will be allocated with a pencil case containing a pen and other academic equipment free of charge. It will be your child’s responsibility to take this to every lesson and also home with them at the end of the day; no pens or equipment should be lent to other students at any time.

With the exception of access to the Diner and the toilet facilities on the ground floor, the school building will be closed to students during break and lunchtime. As such, please ensure that your child has appropriate outdoor wear such as a coat with a hood.

The most recent advice states that the wearing of masks should not be necessary at this time. However, if students feel more comfortable, they will be permitted to wear a suitable face covering during lesson changeovers and in communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained. If worn, masks should be removed at all other times and either stored in bags or disposed of safely depending on the type.

Students will be briefed fully at their induction sessions on Thursday and Friday. However, as I’m sure you are aware, government guidelines are changing almost on a daily basis at the moment but please rest assured that the welfare and safety of students and staff remains at the forefront of our planning for your child’s return to school.