RE: Detailed Guidance for Parents – September Reopening Sixth Form

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope this letter finds you and your family well. I last wrote to you on 15th July with outline information about how we would be reopening Bodmin College for all students in September. I am now writing with more detailed information to help you and your son/daughter to prepare for the start of the new term.

Arrangements For The First Day

You will already be aware that students are allocated to a Year Group Bubble. Year 12 and 13 students are allocated as a Sixth Form bubble but we are staggering the start of the term for Year 12 and 13 in order to allow us to dedicate time for introducing students to the changes and new arrangements in place to keep them safe. The bold shows each year group’s first day:

• Friday 4th September 2020 – Year 12 only 8:50am on the main Tennis Courts
• Monday 7th September 2020 – Year 12 and 13 8:50am Sixth Form Common Room.

The first day will consist of an extended tutor time and an assembly streamed to their classroom to ensure that all students have time to familiarise themselves with the new routines and ask any questions they may have. Please note that on Monday 7th September Year 12 will start at 11:30am and are not required to come in for the morning session. For those traveling in from outside of Bodmin the Sixth Form Common room, Crate Café and Study Room will be open for students to use.

Travelling To And Arriving At School

It is essential that no student attends College if they or any member of their household is exhibiting Covid19 Symptoms. These include new, persistent cough, fever, loss or smell/taste. If any student or anyone in their household experiences these symptoms, they must contact NHS111 immediately and follow the advice on testing and self-isolating. Please also keep us informed by contacting KET@bodmincollege.co.uk or the Sixth Form Office.

Start and finish times are as normal for Sixth Form students. Students should travel to school in conjunction with the government guidance on safer travel.

• Avoid mixing bubbles – students should ONLY travel independently or with students from the same year group or household. They should not travel with students from other year group bubbles unless they are in the same household.
• Walk, cycle, scoot or drive independently if possible.
• Car sharing should be avoided – if unavoidable, please follow the government advice above.        
• Buses will be running as normal but face-coverings must be worn and students should wait and be seated with students from the same year group or household. Students should use the same seats each time and Sixth Form students should sit at the rear of the vehicle. Click here for further information from Cornwall Council.

On arrival at College, students must wash/sanitise their hands and go straight to the Sixth Form area or Woods Browning for Vocational Students.

Arrangements For Study Periods, Break & Lunchtimes

To control movement and minimize mixing, we have allocated areas of the school for each separate Year Group bubble. The Sixth Form should use only the Sixth Form Areas.

1. Sixth form study and social areas – Crate Garden and Decking, Sixth Form Common Room and Study Room, Woods Browning Areas.

• Allocated toilets – Sixth Form and S20

Each year group has a designated food area, for the Sixth Form this is the Crate. The other canteens will not be available. Students who qualify for Free School Meals will be able to access these from the Crate. In certain areas of the College, one way systems are in place along with sanitising stations and queuing systems. Areas will be cleaned regularly.  Furniture has been reduced to create more space and reduce risk of surface contamination.

We would encourage students to use the cashless and contactless payments. Each year group has their own designated outdoor social area with wet weather areas available if required.

Arrangements for Lessons

Despite the Covid19 restrictions in place, we have been able to take measures to ensure that the breadth, depth and quality of curriculum and the learning experience remains at its highest, however, in order to ensure safety we have had to make some procedural changes.

Students should study in year group bubbles, we have made minor adjustments to the timing of some lessons but this will have a minimal effect on the overall school day. Where LZ3 finishes slightly earlier, students are free to depart or wait in their allocated arrival/departure area shown above until 3:30.

For younger years, movement to and from lessons will be staggered and controlled by teacher supervision but Sixth Form will be able to move freely providing they observe social distancing.

Social distancing in classrooms will be extremely difficult to achieve so in order to minimise the risk of virus transmission the following arrangements are in place:

• Balancing of Sixth Form classes – Sixth Form classes tend to be much smaller than lower school and in most cases will not exceed 15 students.
• Exeat System – Sixth Form students will have study periods on their timetable. Where students live locally to the college or can make arrangements to travel home safely they are not required to study onsite and should study from home where possible during these periods. Letters regarding this system will be given to students on the first day of term.
• Seating plans to reduce mixing in class. Wherever possible, desks will face forwards to avoid time spent face-to-face. Teachers will remain at the front of the class.
• Sanitiser units in every classroom along with paper-towels and cleaning spray for desks/chairs. Tissues and bins also available in every classroom for catch it-kill it – bin it.
• NEW! Students are encouraged to wear face-coverings in corridors, communal areas and in classrooms where it doesn’t inhibit learning. Students will be taught how to use them safely. Staff will be provided with visors and may also wear face-coverings where it does not inhibit teaching. Face coverings may be plain or patterned, shop-bought or home-made but must be appropriate for school with no offensive designs. For environmental reasons we would discourage disposal face-coverings and recommend at least 2 face-coverings to allow regularly washing. The following links may be useful:  
• Government Guidance on Face-Coverings
• How to make a face covering
• Quick and easy face-covering from a sock
• Wearing a face-covering safely
• Sharing of books and equipment is discouraged. Students must bring their own stationary. Any subject specific equipment in class that has to be shared will be cleaned between uses. Where possible, equipment will also be quarantined or kept for the sole use of the Sixth Form bubble.
• Doors and windows will be open where it is safe and appropriate to do so.
• Extra cleaning staff ensuring regular cleaning of shared surfaces throughout the day.

Arrangements For The End Of The Day

For some year groups the end time has been slightly staggered but for Sixth Form, the end of the day is as normal.

A limited selection of after-school activities will be available where it is possible to keep bubbles separate. Further information about these will follow.

Additional Information – please also see FAQs

Visitors strictly by appointment only – if you wish to meet with a member of the College staff, you will need to make an appointment in advance. We regret that we are unable to accommodate visitors without a prior appointment at this time.

Lockers will be unavailable at this time, therefore we advise that students bring essential College items only. This is to limit movement around College and minimise the risk of transmission and mixing of bubbles.

If a student is sensitive to sanitizer or has allergies that might affect them, you are invited to provide your own suitable alternative.

Academic and Pastoral support are, as always, of utmost importance. We have extra support in place and students can access this through the usual means.

Attendance expectations are as normal. Whilst we understand that it is a worrying time, education is immeasurably valuable. If you have any concerns, please get in touch.

Marking of books and homework will be strictly controlled. Staff will follow stringent hygiene procedures prior to handling books and books may be quarantined for 72 hours.

Intervention support. In order to support students learning and development effectively, we may on occasion hold small group interventions across year group bubbles. Where this is required, additional precautions will be in place such as social distancing and/or screens.

In addition to this letter, please also read the Government Information For Parents and Carers along with the FAQ section on our website. Should you have any further queries please use the contact us section of our website.

I hope that this letter in conjunction with the letter sent on 15th July provide you with all the you with all the key information and reassurance needed ahead of the new term.

Of course, we continue to monitor local and national context therefore, all information is subject to change. Safety remains paramount and I’d like to thank you once again for your ongoing support and understanding.

We very much look forward to welcoming all students back in September.

Kindest regards,

Mr J Crane

Senior Leader in Charge of Post 16 Education