Our Ref: 2020/081/AND/SAF
18 August 2020
Dear Parent/Carer
Over recent months we have all had to adapt our lives and daily routines to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. As the pandemic has progressed globally we have seen that adherence to basic rules and routines can prevent the infection from moving freely in our community. The basic principles of hand hygiene, limiting contact between groups and maintaining social distancing where possible, will underpin our phased reopening. Since I last wrote to you at the end of term there has been no substantial update from Government with regard to the reopening of schools. Therefore our plans will go ahead as indicated on our website in the Parents section under New Academic Year 2020. Thank you to those parents and carers who have provided us with comments on our reopening plans, your feedback is appreciated.
If you have not been able to view our plans, I can provide you with a broad overview of our approach to the new academic year: we will be implementing a staggered start to the beginning and end of the day; rolling breaks and lunches to keep year groups apart; and the building will be separated into year group zones. These measures are necessary to create year group ‘bubbles’ and are in addition to increased levels of hand hygiene and a rigorous cleaning regime, that will take place throughout each day as well as at the end of each day. Some staff may choose to wear a face covering, as has been mandated in shops and on public transport and if you wish for your child to wear a face covering this will not be challenged. However, current Government guidance does not require the routine wearing of personal protective equipment in schools but I will of course keep you updated as the guidance develops.
We have made the decision to have a phased beginning to the new academic year to ensure our protocols are robust and to enable our systems and support structures to gradually increase to full capacity by Thursday 3rd September. The start dates and times for each year group are as follows:
……………Start Date …………………..Start of Day …….End of Day
Year 7 …Thursday 27th August …..08.40 …………….15.10
Year 11 ..Friday 28th August ………09.10 ……………..16.00
Year 10 Tuesday 1st September….. 08.50…………….. 15.20
Year 9 Wednesday 2nd September 08.30 …………….15.00
Year 8 Thursday 3rd September ….09.00 …………….15.30
To confirm, the timings of our Academy day, as well as the entrance and exit points in the new academic year will be as follows:
Year……..Start of Day……End of Day………. Site Entry/Exit Point………………………… Building Entry/Exit Point
7 ………….08.40…………… 15.10 ………………..Woodland Road – Student Entrance….. A Corridor Fire Exit
8………….09.00 ……………15.30…………………Sheepcote Lane – Student Entrance ……B Corridor Fire Exit
9………….08.30 …………….15.00 ………………..Sheepcote Lane – Student Entrance……C Corridor Fire Exit
10………..08.50…………….. 15.20 ……………….Woodland Road – Student Entrance …..Front Reception
11 ………..09.10 ……………..16.00 ……………….Woodland Road – Student Entrance …..Front Reception
Punctuality is an important element of maintaining our year group bubbles. It is therefore crucial for everyone’s safety that your child arrives and leaves at their designated time.
Our protocols have been developed to keep every student and adult in the building as safe as possible and I am sure by now many of you have spoken to your children about the challenges presented by the Coronavirus. Every student is responsible for their own actions and the amendments to our Behaviour Policy, which can be found on our website, reflect the seriousness of the situation nationally.
All of our teachers and support staff at Amington are excited to welcome our wonderful students back in the new school year. In addition to being fully staffed, we will be implementing our new house system. Our new House Champions will not only lead their house teams in extracurricular activities and competition, they will also be responsible for four key whole Academy areas: anti-bullying, community, diversity and charity. Our new curriculum will address the time students have been away from the Academy and will provide every student with the opportunity to be the best they can be. We are increasing our use of Microsoft Teams as both a method of supporting learning beyond the classroom and to provide continuity of learning in the event of any future local lockdowns. The Academy is approaching the new school year with great positivity.
I look forward to working with you in the year ahead and welcoming students back in the coming weeks.
Yours sincerely
Mr A Deen
Principal