Please read below for Mr Farrell’s important end of term announcement pertaining to the Easter holidays and the start of the Summer Term. 

Uniform

Whilst we had hoped that circumstances would enable us to allow the students to wear their School uniform next term, the on-going limitations to our use of changing rooms, as well as financial considerations, means that they will stay in their tracksuits for the Summer Term. The Sixth Form will continue with their ‘Tailored Tuesday’.

Appearance

We have high hopes that barbers and hairdressers will open from 12th April. We look forward to all pupils taking advantage of this, to ensure that they return to school having availed themselves of these services!

Home Testing

As announced last week, guidelines state that the expectation is for pupils to continue with home testing over the holidays. For your convenience, here are those details again: Phase 2 – Six tests to be completed twice weekly over the School holidays – I recommend you work on a Sunday/Wednesday rota. Phase 3 – tests to be carried out on evenings of Tuesday 20th April (the day before term starts) and Sunday 25th April.

Please note the boarding houses will work in tandem with parents to coordinate the administration of this process, whilst also ensuring that those pupils who will need to quarantine with us in April are appropriately supported. Similarly, those A Level students who will be returning to School before the term officially starts, to sit their RCAs, will be expected to take their first test the night before their first assessment. Once a test is taken, the student is required to register the result in two ways: For our School records, the pupils should use SVEP. They will find the necessary form under ‘activities’ – they are used to making choices via this link and they will find a new category each week. By doing it in this way, we can meet our GDPR obligations and ensure that these records are deleted after 14 days; Additionally, the pupils will need to record their result with the NHS via this site – www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result. The testing kits come with full instructions both as to how to conduct the test and also how to record the results. You can also find the guide here. 

Calendar

You will find the Summer Calendar here.

As you will see, we have set out an ambitious programme that is designed to return School life to as close to normal as possible. We will keep you updated regarding any changes should there be a need to make amendments based on what may or may not be possible.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of the School and wish you all a restful Easter.

Mr Farrell, Senior Deputy Head