Following Boris Johnson’s briefing on 22 February, we are delighted that we will be able to re-open and welcome all girls back to school for on-site teaching on Monday 8 March. Updated guidance for schools was released by the DfE and having reviewed its contents, little will change in terms of procedures and processes that we already have in place to comply with the guidance, mitigate risks and ensure our community feels comfortable and confident in school. You can find our current COVID-19 Risk Assessment on our website under About and Policies & Procedures, which outline the steps we have taken to prevent/minimise any spread of the virus. We will update this as required.
Key points contained within the guidance
- COVID testing for staff and pupils – there are no changes to the system of testing for primary schools. Some 70 of our staff are currently carrying out lateral flow tests at home twice a week. There are no plans for the testing of primary age pupils at present.
- Wearing of face masks – children in primary schools do not need to wear a face covering. The new guidance on the wearing of face masks outside the classroom and where social distancing is not possible in classrooms, only applies to pupils in Year 7 upwards.
- Clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable pupils/staff – pupils and staff who are clinically extremely vulnerable should not attend school. Staff who are clinically vulnerable can attend school.
- Extra-curricular activities – schools can resume all before and after school educational activities and wrap-around childcare, where this provision is necessary to support parents to work, attend education and access medical care, and is part of pupils’ wider education and training.
- Sport – physical education and sport can continue. Competition between different schools should not take place until wider grassroots sport for under 18s is permitted.
- Curriculum – schools should teach an “ambitious and broad curriculum in all subjects”.
- Trips – extra-curricular trips of any kind are still not permitted.
We are particularly pleased that there seems to be a move to open up sporting and extra-curricular activities for pupils – albeit with these still needing to operate within the confines of year group bubbles. We will be examining opportunities to extend our programme accordingly in a sensible and cautious manner.
We are encouraged and spurred on by this welcome news and celebrate the gradual re-opening of the country and a slow and steady return to normal life.
