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Dear parents/carers,

The start of the new school year is fast approaching, and I write to you in advance of students’ return to share details for the start of the academic year 2021-2022.

Induction and Registration Days

The new school year will begin for the new Year 7 students on 2nd September with their own induction programme on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd September.  Details for the start of the year for the new 7s are in a letter sent to parents.

Students starting in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 will attend school on Friday 3rd September 2021 from 11am until 1pm. All students should attend school in full uniform.

The details for each year group are below:

Years 8 + 11                                         Years 9 + 10                                                    

Friday 3rd September                            Friday 3rd September

Timing of day: 11.00-1.00                       Timing of day: 11.00-13.00

11.00 Assembly in Sports Hall                11.00 – 12.30 Induction with tutors

11.30 – 1.00 Induction with tutors            12.30 – 1.00 Assembly in Sports Hall

Year 12                                                   Year 13

Friday 3rd September                             Friday 3rd September

Timing of day: 9.00am -1.40pm              Timing of day: 10.00am – 1:00pm

9.00am – 10.00am Assembly                 10.00am – 11.00am Assembly (followed by 20 minute break)

10.00am – 1:40pm Induction                    11.20am – 1.00pm Tutor activities

1.40pm – Dismissal                               1pm – Dismissal

Mass Testing

We will be conducting 2 lateral flow tests for students on return to school, 3-4 days apart. Up to one third of people who have coronavirus are asymptomatic, meaning that they may be carriers of coronavirus, but have no symptoms. By testing we will help to reduce the spread in school.

The testing will take place during the first two week of the students’ return to school, during the school day. However, we require students in Year 13 to arrive on the following days at the following time for their first test. Students should arrive to school via the Bromley Street gate and make their way to The Cube (in the St. Dunstan’s building).

Thursday 2nd September
9.30am 13A 11.10am 13F
9.50am 13B 11.30am 13G
10.10am 13C 11.50am 13H
10.30am 13D 12.10pm 13I
10.50am 13E 12.30pm 13J

If a student has any of the Coronavirus symptoms, they should not attend school for testing, but should isolate and complete a PCR test. You must also advise the school of their absence.

You will be familiar with the lateral flow devices due to completing home test kits, the tests require a swab of the throat and nose. Registration for the tests will be completed by the school using details we have on our school system for your child. Results for those in years 7-11 will be emailed to parents. For Sixth Form students, results will be emailed directly to students.

Any students or parents who do not want their child to participate in the testing in school should complete the following form by the 22nd August – https://forms.gle/TVUWpBhubSepb2ss7

Any students with SEND who will require support to complete a lateral flow test should speak to Ms Bell, SENDCo.

Students who test positive on a lateral flow device will need to self-isolate immediately and take a confirmatory PCR test. If the confirmatory PCR is also positive, they must follow the NHS guidance and self-isolate. You must also let the school know of the absence.

If the confirmatory PCR is negative, the student can stop self-isolating and return to school.

From the 16th August, close contacts who have either been fully vaccinated or who are under the age of 18 will not need to self-isolate. They will be asked to take a PCR test immediately but will not need to self-isolate whilst awaiting results of the test. If the PCR test is positive, then they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of the test. NHS Test and Trace will then get in touch to identify any close contacts who may need to get tested.

Timetable and Schedule

Following induction and registration days, students will attend school from Monday 6th September 2021 following their normal timetable.

A reminder of the normal school timetable and entrance and exit gates is as follows:

8.20am – Gates Open (students are able to purchase breakfast from the sixth form café or work in the VLE).

 

8.40-8.55am Morning Registration
8.55-9.55 Lesson 1
9.55-10.55 Lesson 2
10.55-11.15 Break
11.15-12.15 Lesson 3
12.15-13.15 Lesson 4
13.15-14.00 Afternoon Registration
14.00-15.00 Lesson 5

Entrance and Exit Gates for each year groups are as follows:

Year 7 Bromley Street Gate
Year 8 Copley Street Gate
Year 9 Copley Street Gate
Year 10 Copley Street Gate
Year 11 Bromley Street Gate
Year 12 St Dunstan’s Reception
Year 13 St Dunstan’s Reception

Uniform Expectations

A reminder that all students are expected to be in their full school uniform upon return to school unless there is a valid exception.

We look forward to welcoming all of our students back in September, and hope you enjoy the rest of your summer break.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Woods

Headteacher