Dear Parent/ Carer,
I hope you are well in these continuing challenging times and it has been a pleasure to welcome all of your children back to school this week. I write with some key updates at the start of term.
Firstly, a reminder that following last week’s staggered start, we are now fully open again on a full-time basis for all students. This includes all work experience placements and enrichment sessions. There are no changes from 2020/21 to either staffing or the timings of the school day- don’t forget that as lesson 1 now begins at 9.15am, it is more vital than ever that all students are now in school by this time at the very latest every day. Our free Breakfast Club continues to operate from 8.45am every day, and as always, it is fantastic to see so many students arrive to school early to attend this.
Secondly, I wanted to provide you with some key updates regarding the continuing Coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps the most important change in 2021/22 is that NHS Test and Trace (not school) will work with positive Coronavirus cases to identify contacts from now on. Students named as contacts are now advised to take a PCR test but are no longer required to self-isolate. There is also no requirement to self-isolate whilst awaiting PCR test results and students can still come to school as usual if they fall into this category. Students and adults should of course continue to stay at home if they have any Coronavirus symptoms.
I would also like to thank you all for your commitment to our in-school Coronavirus testing programme over the course of the last week, this is much appreciated and helps to keep all of us safe and healthy. Once your child’s second “in-school” test has been completed, we will ensure that we issue all students with enough lateral flow tests to complete tests twice a week at home until the end of September.
At present, we are not expecting any local or national lockdowns to be put into place but please rest assured that our contingency planning for any potential problems during 2021/22 has been thorough. Our updated risk assessment for remaining fully open and our “Outbreak Management Plan” can be found on our website at: https://www.theedgeacademy.co.uk/policies/. If you have any questions at all regarding these documents or the pandemic more generally, please get in touch.
Finally, I wanted to finish by reminding of you of some key diary dates over the course of the coming weeks, don’t forget too that all of our term dates for 2021/22 are outlined in full at: https://www.theedgeacademy.co.uk/calendar-2020-21/
Thursday 24th September 4-6pm- “Fish and Chip” Parents’ Evening for Years 8,9,10 and 11.
Thursday 30th September- INSET Day, school closed to students.
Friday 1st October- INSET Day, school closed to students.
As always, please also feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] if there are any further questions I can assist with in any way regarding this letter.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Wakefield
Principal