As you will be aware, the Government has announced that all students will begin to return to school from Monday 8th March. This is very welcome news and we are excited to see all the students back with us after this period of remote learning. I am writing to you to share information on our plans for the week commencing the 8th of March so that the students can make their return as safely as possible.

The guidance that the government has published states that all students returning to school will need to undertake a COVID-19 lateral flow test three times on the school site during their first two weeks back, with each test needing to be separated by 3 to 5 days. The guidance is also clear that secondary schools can operate a phased reopening to ensure the first round of testing takes place before students return to the classroom.

The flexibility that the guidance affords means that we can make a good start in carrying out the required 6180 student tests! This also means that we can provide maximum support to each year group on their return to school.

We will provide more specific details next week, but to help you with supporting your child for their return to school – here are brief arrangements for each year group for the week commencing 8th March:

Year 7

• Monday 8th – Remote learning at home, with students to attend school only for a scheduled appointment for their first lateral flow test
• Tuesday 9th – Remote learning at home
• Wednesday 10th – students return to school on this day, providing their lateral flow test is negative.

Year 8

• Monday 8th – Remote learning at home
• Tuesday 9th – Remote learning at home, with students to attend school only for a scheduled appointment for their first lateral flow test
• Wednesday 10th – Remote learning at home
• Thursday 11th – Students return to school on this day, providing their lateral flow test is negative.

Year 9

• Monday 8th – Remote learning at home
• Tuesday 9th – Remote learning at home
• Wednesday 10th – Remote learning at home, with students to attend school only for a scheduled appointment for their first lateral flow test
• Thursday 11th – Students return to school on this day, providing their lateral flow test is negative.

Year 10

• Monday 8th – Remote learning at home
• Tuesday 9th – Remote learning at home, with students to attend school only for a scheduled appointment for their first lateral flow test
• Wednesday 10th – Students return to school on this day, providing their lateral flow test is negative.

Year 11

• Monday 8th – Remote learning at home, with students to attend school only for a scheduled appointment for their first lateral flow test
• Tuesday 9th – Students return to school on this day, providing their lateral flow test is negative.

Year 12

• Monday 8th – Remote learning at home
• Tuesday 9th – Remote learning at home, with students to attend school only for a scheduled appointment for their first lateral flow test
• Wednesday 10th – Students return to school for scheduled lessons only, providing their lateral flow test is negative. Independent Learning and Private Study sessions to be taken at home.

Year 13

• Monday 8th – Remote learning at home, with students to attend school only for a scheduled appointment for their first lateral flow test
• Tuesday 9th – Remote learning at home
• Wednesday 10th – Students return to school, for scheduled lessons only providing their lateral flow test is negative. Independent Learning and Private Study sessions to be taken at home.

The COVID-19 testing schedule has been designed to minimise the chances of students who have already had their first test coming into contact with those who have not. We have also had to consider that it also requires a significant number of staff to be involved in administering the process. The second and third set of tests the students will take will be carried out in the remainder of the first week and the start of the next, with students coming out of their lessons at a scheduled time.

While it is important to state that testing remains voluntary, the more students who have consent to be tested, the safer our school community will be. In our communication next week we will send out information on the appointment schedule for testing and how, if you have not done so already, you can give consent for your child to be tested. This can be done by logging into parent portal via https://frog.cramlingtonlv.co.uk. We will also share information on preparing for the lateral flow test and video information on what the process entails. Meantime, if you have any questions on the arrangements for the return to school then please get in touch with your son/daughters learning manager in the first instance.

Work is well underway on the preparations for the very welcome return of students, and I thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to make their return as safe, comfortable and smooth as possible.

A copy of this information can be downloaded here.