Good afternoon,
We hope you and your family have had a lovely end of term break.
As you are aware, on 22 February, the Prime Minster announced all students would return to school from Monday 8 March and we are now in the process of making plans for sixth form students to return to school on this date. We are really looking forward to welcoming our students back and we know our sixth form students are particularly keen to return to lessons and continue with their in-school learning.
One of the systems of control that will be in place when students do return to school, to help reduce the transmission of Covid 19, is for staff and students to participate in asymptomatic lateral flow Covid 19 testing. On a student’s return to school, they will be offered three lateral flow Covid 19 tests three to five days apart. With this in mind and to enable Sixth Form students to return to their in-school lessons on Monday 8 March we would like to invite students in Year 12 and Year 13 to ‘drop in’ to school on Monday 1 March and Friday 5 March to take the first two of their three lateral flow Covid 19 tests. Year 12 and 13 students can attend school between 9am and 5pm on
Monday 1 March to take their first lateral flow Covid 19 test and during the same times on Friday 5 March to take their second lateral flow Covid 19 test. This should allow students to come to school for their test whilst still attending any live streamed sessions they have on that day. Inviting students into school next week is in line with Department for Education guidance and does not break national lockdown guidance. Students’ third test will take place on Tuesday 9 March. After the third test has been completed students will then be asked to self-test twice weekly at home. Further information on testing at home will follow next week.
Students do not need to make an appointment to drop in for their tests on Monday and Friday and can attend site at any time between 9am and 5pm. Students should sign in at Reception and then make their way to the Theatre, where our testing centre is based. Students will have to self-administer the test but staff will be on hand to provide support and guidance throughout the testing process. The following You Tube video explains how to self-test. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLmZYrdkj-E&list=PLvaBZskxS7tzQYlVg7lwH5uxAD9UrSzGJ&index=5
Students must wear a face covering whilst on site for their test and should maintain social distancing at all times.
Participating in the lateral flow Covid 19 testing is optional, students who do not wish to participate in testing should return to school on Monday 8 March, when all Year 12 and Year 13 student will return. If your child does want to participate in the testing please complete the consent form via this link https://landauforte.wufoo.com/forms/s1fbyrrf0ccdzlx/ by 11.30pm on Sunday 28 February.
Please note that students over 16 need to complete the consent form themselves but we would ask that parents/ carers talk through the form with their son/daughter. We would ask that you and your child also read the attached Privacy Notice which explains how your data will be processed.
We hope that all Year 12 and 13 students will attend site next week to take their lateral flow Covid 19 tests and we look forward to welcoming all Year 12 and 13 students back to school on Monday 8 March. If you have any questions about the content of this letter please don’t hesitate to contact Dr Delbridge, [email protected]
Kind regards,
Alison Brannick Dr Andy Delbridge
Principal Assistant Principal and Head of Sixth Form