Covid Update - Year 9 and Year 10

We have been advised by Public Health England that there have been four cases (in the last 48 hours) of COVID-19 within the school in year 9 and year 10.

CAN ALL YEAR 9 AND 10 PARENTS PLEASE CHECK TEXT AND EMAILS FOR AN UPDATE ON WHETHER YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN AFFECTED.

Dear parents and carers,

We have been advised by Public Health England that there have been four confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the school in year 9 and year 10 in the last two days.

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

The small number of children who have been in direct prolonged close contact with the confirmed case will have received an individual letter and will be staying at home for 10 days. Other members of the household who have been contacted can continue normal activities provided the isolated child does not develop symptoms within the 10 day self-isolation period.

Year 9 Case

  • 12 students have been asked to self-isolate.
  • We have contacted the students who are now self-isolating via email and text. If you have not heard from us then you are not affected.
  • The return date for year 9 students will be either 19th or 20th July, depending on when they last had contact.
  • No members of staff have been asked to isolate.
  • The student was last in on Friday 9th July 2021.
  • The name of the student will not be released due to data privacy laws.

Year 9 Case

  • 45 students have been asked to self-isolate.
  • We have contacted the students who are now self-isolating via email and text. If you have not heard from us then you are not affected.
  • The return date for year 9 students will be either 19th or 20th July, depending on when they last had contact.
  • No members of staff have been asked to isolate.
  • The student was last in on Friday 9th July 2021.
  • The name of the student will not be released due to data privacy laws.

Year 10 Case

  • 21 students have been asked to self-isolate.
  • We have contacted the students who are now self-isolating via email and text. If you have not heard from us then you are not affected.
  • The return date for year 10 students will be either 19th or 20th July, depending on when they last had contact..
  • No members of staff has been asked to isolate.
  • The student was last in on Friday 9th July 2021.
  • The name of the student will not be released due to data privacy laws.

Year 10 Case

  • 16 students have been asked to self-isolate.
  • We have contacted the students who are now self-isolating via email and text. If you have not heard from us then you are not affected.
  • The return date for year 10 students will be either 19th or 20th July, depending on when they last had contact..
  • No members of staff has been asked to isolate.
  • The student was last in on Wednesday 7th July 2021.
  • The name of the student will not be released due to data privacy laws.

As a school, ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and the wider school community has been our absolute priority. As a result, we have closely followed all Government guidance and have implemented all possible safety measures and protocols to ensure everyone’s safety and to limit the transmission of any virus.

The guidance that we have received is to ask any member of staff or students that have had close contact with the infected person, to isolate for 10 days from the last time they had contact with the child. The DfE guidance states that close contact means:

  • Direct close contacts – face to face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within 1 metre, including being coughed on, a face to face conversation, or unprotected physical contact (skin-to-skin)
  • Proximity contacts – extended close contact (within 1 to 2 metres for more than 15 minutes) with an infected individual
  • Travelling in a small vehicle, like a car, with an infected person.

The students and families of those who are now self-isolating have already been informed and will be accessing remote learning from home to limit any disruption to their education.

I completely appreciate and understand that there are already some inevitable anxieties given the circumstances we find ourselves in again. However, I would like to reassure you that we are doing all we can to ensure everyone’s safety and will be continuing to closely follow and implement advice from the experts to maintain this.

It is important that students, staff and the wider school community remain vigilant and continue to uphold the various safety protocols in place both within the Academy but also adhering to national guidance.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

People who do not have symptoms should not request a test unless this has been specifically requested by Public Health England or the local authority. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 10 days.

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Symptoms
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are the recent onset of:

  • A new continuous cough
  • A high temperature
  • A loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

Do

  • Continue to use the home testing kits
  • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • Wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If there are any further updates we will inform you immediately, but if you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact the Academy and we will be able to support you.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and understanding – it is greatly appreciated.

Please stay safe and join me in wishing anyone suffering from Covid a speedy recovery.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Lisa Mason
Principal