Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that all schools will re-open from Monday, 8 March to all students, everyone at Landau Forte College Derby is looking forward to welcoming students back.
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the welfare of students and staff is our priority and we will do everything we can to make the school environment as safe as possible. We will continue to follow our existing, stringent measures including staggering timetables, creating dedicated bubble zones, boosting hygiene and following social distancing where we can.
We will be in touch with parents and carers very soon with further details ahead of the return date of 8 March. In the meantime we are reviewing the Government guidance and updating our risk assessments and procedures. There are no significant changes, and so we anticipate the return being very similar to the start of year in September.
Thank you for your ongoing support and patience throughout this time. As ever, if you have any questions or would like to discuss the return please do get in touch in the usual ways.
We advise everyone to take a look at the following resources:
Return to College – Sixth Form students
Update from the principal
It was great to hear the Prime Minister’s announcement last week regarding students returning to school from Monday, 8 March and we can’t wait to welcome all our students back to school.
Students’ return to school/ COVID-19 testing
Below are the return dates for each year group. The attached lateral flow testing/ return to school schedule clearly outlines the date and time each year group will return and when students will take their three lateral flow tests – please do have a look at this.
- Year 11, 12 and 13 – Monday 8 March
- Year 10 – Tuesday 9 March
- Year 8 and 9 – Wednesday 10 March
- Year 7 – Thursday 11 March
One of the systems of control that will be in place to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 is for staff and students to participate in asymptomatic lateral flow COVID-19 testing. Once students have completed the three in school lateral flow tests students will begin to test at home. We will share more details on testing at home next week.
Consent for testing
Over the past few days staff have worked incredibly hard to transform our theatre into a COVID-19 testing centre and Year 12 and 13 students are attending site this week to take their lateral flow tests. Participating in the lateral flow COVID-19 testing is not compulsory but to make the testing as meaningful as possible we would hope that all students participate in the process. Students who do not wish to participate in testing should return to school on the scheduled date for their year group.
Please complete the consent form via the link below by the end of the week to enable your child to participate in the lateral flow testing. If you previously completed a paper testing consent form we would ask that you still complete the new form. Please also read the attached Privacy Notice which explains how your data will be processed.
Complete the consent for testing form
One consent form is need for each child at LFCD and students over 16 can complete the consent form themselves. Please note, if your child has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they will not need to participate in the testing. If this is the case please make us aware by emailing [email protected]
Safety measures
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the welfare of students and staff is always our top priority and we will do everything we can to make the school environment as safe as possible. From Monday we will return to the arrangements that were in place prior to the Christmas holiday.
- Year groups will remain in year group bubbles throughout the day
- Times of the day/ lessons will be the same as prior to the Christmas break, we have attached the times of the day for your information. The only change is that Year 11 tutor time will now finish at 3.15pm, this will allow subject intervention to take place after tutor time. We will send out the intervention timetable very soon.
- We will follow the same arrangements/ times for breaks/ lunchtimes, with students remaining with their year groups.
- All students and staff must bring face coverings to school and wear them at all times when in the school building, including in lessons. The only exception to this is staff and students who are medically exempt.
- Students will attend in full uniform and, on the days they have PE lessons, bring their kit to change into. The previous socially distanced changing arrangements for PE will continue.
- Additional cleaning, with a focus on high frequency touch surfaces and regular fogging of all areas, will continue to take place. Hand sanitiser, wipes, tissues and gloves will be available in all classrooms and throughout the building.
- We will continue to promote the principals of ‘Hands, Face, Space’, including frequent hand washing and good respiratory hygiene.
School attendance
All students should return to school on their allocated date unless they have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable. If this is the case please make us aware of this as soon as possible.
Whilst the majority of our students can’t wait to get back to face to face learning, we know some students will be anxious about returning to school. If you or your child have any concerns about returning to school please contact your child’s Head of Year via the contact form on the website. We will work together to ensure every member of the Landau Community feels safe and happy to return to school.
Please continue to follow the guidance from the NHS and Public Health England, as a reminder your child must not attend school if:
- They have COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19
- Live with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms or who has tested positive for COVID-19
- Has been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
Summer examinations update
Towards the end of last week Ofqual and the Department for Education published information on how GCSE and A level examinations will be awarded this summer. All qualifications will be assessed by the school and grades submitted to the examination boards by mid-June. We are now finalising our assessment process to ensure it is transparent, rigorous and most importantly, fair. We want our students to be able to achieve a grade which reflects their hard work. Our assessments will take into consideration work that has taken place previously and work that will be completed on students’ return to school, including trial examinations which will take place after Easter. It is absolutely vital that students continue to work hard and remain engaged with their studies. We are determined that our students will receive the grades they deserve and we will share further details of the assessment process with you and our students over the forthcoming weeks.
Thank you for your ongoing support, you have done an amazing job in supporting your children with their remote learning. Please do get in touch, by emailing the PA to the Principal Miss Walendziewski via [email protected] , if you have any questions or concerns regarding the information contained in this letter.