Dear Parent / Carer
Over the last couple of weeks we have experienced a steady increase in the number of COVID cases in our student and staff bodies. Today we have reached 16 members of staff absent with COVID, which has created and will continue to create operational challenges all this week.
To manage these operational challenges the following actions will be implemented:
1. Our Year 9 parent consultation virtual appointments are due to take place this Wednesday and Thursday. There may well be some disruption to these with one or two colleagues unavailable to meet due to illness; others will be able to continue with their appointments from home. Year 9 parents will be notified about any colleagues who cannot attend due to illness. We will review who has not been able to speak to teachers and look at setting up alternative provision. Bookings for this event close at 4pm tomorrow.
2. Year 10 are currently sitting their PPEs and when they are not in exams identified classes will be combined and placed in the KS3 and KS4 café. The students will have supervised revision.
3. This week all students will have an increase in the number of lessons that are being covered by TPS staff and, when available, agency teachers.
4. There are a number of trips and visits planned for this week; each one is being reviewed today to ensure they can be staffed. Where the trip or visit cannot take place, you will be notified; I appreciate this will be short notice.
Work being set for students
When students are off with COVID the school’s expectation is that work is set. However, I am aware that this has not been the case in some instances. Where you have not had work set please contact the Head of KS3 Rob.Freeland@priory.herts.sch.uk or Head of KS4 Claudia.Follano@priory.herts.sch.uk.
This week with the increased number of students off with COVID and the ever‐growing list of staff, logistically we are going to struggle with setting work. The ‘Virtual Learning’ tab (https://www.priory.herts.sch.uk/virtual‐learning/) on the school website has a range of resources that students can use to supplement their learning whilst they are off.
COVID protocols
Self‐Isolation
If your child tests positive please report their test result on GOV.UK. Please then send the notification you will receive from the NHS to covid19@priory.herts.sch.uk. Please also let us know the day their symptoms started if they had any.
The self‐isolation period includes the day the symptoms started (or the day of the test if they do not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days. They can return to school on day 11 unless they have a high temperature.
If they were asymptomatic and get any of the main symptoms of COVID‐19 while they are self‐isolating, the 10 days restarts from the day after their symptoms started.
Ending self‐isolation early
Your child may be able to stop isolating early. They can do an LFD test from day 5 of their self‐isolation period (but not before) and another test the next day (at least 24 hours apart). They can stop self‐isolating if:
- both tests are negative; and
- they do not have a high temperature
Please report their test result after each test. Please send the notifications you will receive from the NHS to covid19@priory.herts.sch.uk.
They should stop testing after they have had 2 negative test results in a row and return to school on the second day.
On a brighter note the 3G pitch has been completed, the cladding around the Science block has been finished, the school production of Legally Blonde was sensational and the weather looks to be good all week!
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Take care,
Geraint Edwards