As we continue to make positive steps towards returning to more normal times, I would like to update you on some important information for students at Countesthorpe Academy in light of the recent government announcements.
- Face coverings
- Control Measures
- Lateral Flow Testing
- Uniform reminders
- Year 11 and Year 13
- Face Coverings
- From Monday 17th May, students will no longer be required to wear face masks in classrooms or communal areas of the school – students can choose to carry on wearing them if they wish to, and we would recommend the continued use of face masks in communal and busier areas of the school.
- Students should continue to wear a face covering on school transport and if sharing a car with someone outside of their household.
- Please be aware that we may have to return to mask wearing in the event of a local change in circumstances. This could be advised by PHE (for a school outbreak) or by the Local Action Committee (for a local increase in cases).
- Systems of control
All other control measures we have in place will continue. These include:-
- Year group separation
- Split break and lunchtimes
- One way system
- Class and year groups bubbles
- Regular hand sanitizing
- Regular hand washing
- Home testing twice a week
- Track and trace
- Lateral Flow Tests
Lateral Flow tests should continue to be conducted at home on Wednesdays and Sundays, with the results of these being registered on the NHS website (https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result) and also on our test result form (https://bit.ly/3bYMjfD).
Remember:
- Anyone with symptoms must book a PCR test. Lateral Flow tests should not be used if your child is symptomatic. A standard PCR test must be booked online (https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test) or by calling 119.
- A positive Lateral Flow Test carried out at home MUST be followed up with a standard PCR test. These should be booked online or by calling 119. You must also inform us immediately via https://bit.ly/3bYMjfDor by alerting us through email at covid19@clcc.college so that we can quickly identify close contacts.
- Close contacts of positive cases are still required to be identified, and these students will be have to self isolate for 10 days. Negative lateral flow tests DO NOT override this requirement.
- Where there is a positive result from a Lateral Flow Test taken at home, we are required to identify close contacts and inform them to self-isolate until the student who tested positive has had a PCR test and the result has been received. This means if the PCR test returns a negative result, your child may return to school immediately. However, if the PCR test confirms the positive Lateral Flow test result, the 10 day period of self isolation must be carried out.
- Uniform reminders
Could I please remind you of our uniform policy which can be found here.
https://www.clcc.college/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Uniform-Policy-2021.pdf
It is vital that students have the correct uniform for school.
- Year 11 and Year 13
We are approaching the time of the year when Year 11 and Year 13 students are preparing to move onto the next stage in their lives. In what has been the most remarkable and unprecedented time, we cannot fail to recognise the specific challenges for students in these year groups, who have had both exam years disrupted due to the pandemic.
Normally this time of year is packed with our exam preparation programme and revision sessions. This year is of course very different! We would like to congratulate and commend all our students on their commitment, dedication, and resilience since the start of the pandemic. We wish them every success in the coming months.
And finally, many thanks to you all for your continued support in helping us through this period. I hope that in the next few weeks and months, we will see a return to much more normal times, and we can look forward to welcoming you back into school for face to face events.
Mrs C. Aitcheson
Headteacher