WLD Update for Parents & Carers - Last week of term and contact tracing

As I said in my weekly bulletin on Sunday all schools are in a difficult position with regards to self-isolation over the coming couple of weeks: 

• We are required by the government to stay open until the end of term; 
• We are required to carry out contact tracing as directed by Public Health England; 
• Students have to self-isolate for 14 days if they are identified as a contact of a positive case;
• Typically, between 40 and 60 students have to self-isolate when a positive case is notified to us by parents/carers. We have had 3 instances of this in Year 11, 2 in Year 9 and 1 in Year 8 since the start of September.

Therefore, 

• If we are notified of a positive case between now and Christmas a significant number of students are going to be self-isolating into the Christmas period;
• I really do not want to be in the position of notifying you that your son or daughter has to self-isolate over Christmas - it would be very distressing given the year that we have all had;
• It is very important that everyone considers the safety of themselves and others and carefully follows all the guidance that we are being given by the government so that we reduce the chances of having a positive case amongst our students in the next week or so.

 

You may have seen in the press that the government has just said that we could take next Friday (18th) as a staff training day if we wish so that we don't have to carry on contact tracing beyond Christmas Eve. This is impractical as we would have to make up the teaching time elsewhere and it is very short notice with considerable practical implications. So we are planning to remain with our current plans for an early close on Friday 18th (the buses will leave school at 12.20 - Year 7 will be dismissed at 12.10, Years 8 & 9 at 12.15 and Years 10 & 11 at 12.20). This is the same pattern as in previous years, with a slightly staggered finish to avoid congestion.

I appreciate that this is a complex update from me! My concern is the balance between student attendance at school and the risk to your plans for the Christmas break if a student tests positive for the virus.

Best wishes

James Harris

Headteacher