Dear Families,
Over the weekend we have been informed of staff and students who have tested positive for COVID-19. There is a particular case in year 7 where we need more time to ascertain who might be close contacts. In order to carry out a full risk assessment and identify all those who have been in close contact with the students, school will be closed to all Year 7 students on Monday 12th July. When we are reasonably confident of the students who have been close contacts in school, we will make contact with those families to advise them of their self-isolation period.
We expect to be in a position to start bringing back students who have been ruled out as close contacts from Tuesday 13th onwards. You will appreciate that this depends on how the situation unfolds, especially if further positive cases emerge. Please be on the lookout for a message from me at some point on Monday.
Online Live Lessons – message from Mr Pilbury
Students who are self-isolating, should be in a position to access live lessons via Teams. Please contact the school if you are struggling to access lessons.
A word on the use of Lateral Flow Testing
You can help us by ensuring that you test your children twice a week. Taking a test before you return to school tomorrow morning will help.
Please note that lateral flow tests are intended to be used by people who do not have symptoms. If you have symptoms, please stay away from school and get a PCR test. Unfortunately, we are picking up cases where people are saying “our child felt unwell, they took an lateral flow test and it came back negative so we came into school.” They then go on to test positive at a later date which means that they have come into contact with more people than they would have done if they had stayed at home once symptoms first emerged.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries. Thank you for your patience and support.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Emmanuel Botwe
Headteacher