18th December 2020Liam Steel

Start of Term Arrangements

Apologies for contacting you with a change to the start of term arrangements after the term has already ended.  This is due to the last minute government announcement that has given schools and families little or no notice to make quite significant changes.

It is frustrating to receive last minute information like this at the end of what has been a very challenging term for parents, staff and students.  As far as I’m aware there has been little or no consultation with schools around what is practical or even possible in the time scales that have been discussed.

Return to school

In order to ensure a staggered return to school after the Christmas holidays, we will be following the newly released government guidance.  This means that:

  • Years 11 & 13 will return to school as planned on Monday 4th January and follow their normal timetable (including any exams)
  • All other year groups will have remote learning from Monday 4th January to Friday 8th and will return to school on Monday 11th January.

I know that many parents will be frustrated that further school time will be missed, especially if your child has had to self isolate at points this term.  However, fortunately at Burnside, remote learning means that students can access their normal timetabled lesson online with their teacher.  Students will be able to follow their normal timetable online from home.  Students will be sent an email directly with further information.

If your child does not have IT access at home please contact the school so that we can support.

  • Further information on free school meals will follow for the parents of children not in school in the first week.
  • If you require a critical worker/vulnerable child place for school in the first week please contact c.jenkins@burnsidecollege.org.uk.  

Testing

The government has made a number of announcements about mass testing in schools.  We are pleased that the government is putting plans in place to ensure that schools are as safe as they can be and that students and staff have access to rapid testing.

However, I do have to make clear to parents that it is highly unlikely any significant testing will take place in school in the first weeks of the term.

We currently have no equipment or tests in school, nor do we have any information when this will be delivered.  We have no staff qualified or trained to administer tests and no facilities set up for testing to take place.  As I’m sure you will appreciate, it will take some time to put in place safely the staff and equipment that is necessary to roll this out.

Further information will follow on this in January and when testing is available in school it will require parental consent.

Please contact the school on office@burnsidecollege.org.uk if you would like to discuss any of this information in more detail.  The school will be closed from today for the Christmas break so it may be Monday 4th before you receive a response.  Apologies once again for the timescale for this which is out of the school’s hands.