Return to School in September

Dear students, parents and carers,

I am writing to inform you of plans for the start of the new school year in September. These are based on the information we have received from the Department for Education:

Testing

“The asymptomatic testing programme is being paused over the summer holidays in schools/colleges that will be closed over the summer holidays. You should only participate in the asymptomatic testing programme if you are attending school/college over the summer.

 

If you are not attending the school over the summer but wish to access rapid lateral flow testing, you can continue to do so by ordering LFD test kits from GOV.UK or by collecting kits from your local pharmacy.

 

We are unsure about the Covid situation we will face in the autumn, so we want to be prepared for all scenarios. Subject to public health advice, testing may restart on return in the autumn. If it does, we expect to offer you two tests on-site before continuing regular testing at home.

 

If you are transitioning to a new school or college, you should start testing on arrival in the autumn.

 

This is the most effective way to reduce the risk of transmission and support the continuation of face-to-face education. We recognise, however, the need to minimise any disruption to education and to continue to support your child’s mental wellbeing. The government will continue to review the future need for testing in light of any changes to the public health situation.”

 

In line with government guidance and other secondary schools, Larkmead will have a staggered start to the return to school

 

Year group	First test – then go home	First full day in school
7	Friday 3/9	Monday 6/9
8	Tuesday 7/9	Wednesday 8/9
9	Monday 6/9	Tuesday 7/9
10	Monday 6/9	Tuesday 7/9
11	Friday 3/9	Monday 6/9
	First test	First full day in school
12	Thursday 2/9	Friday 3/9
13	Thursday 2/9	Friday 3/9

 

 

• Students in years 7-11 will come into school for their first test at the times indicated below.
• Students will be met on the playground and directed to the testing zone in the gym.

• There may be some delays as we process the volume of students involved.
• After the test students must leave the site immediately.

• Parents and carers will have to make arrangements for how their child gets to and from school for test.

 

Thursday 2 September – Year 12 and 13

Students will test during Period 1

Friday 3 September – Year 7 and 11

9.00-9.15	9.15-9.35	9.35-9.50	9.50-10.05	10.05-10.20
7MA Mr McKavanagh	7SO Miss Simmons	7LI Miss Lewis	7RT Mr Roberts	7JMY Miss May

 

12.00-12.15	12.15-12.25	12.25-12.40	12.40-13.00	13.00-13.15
11PI	11PW	11MHS	11RE	11BI

 

Monday 6 September – Year 10 and 9

9.00-9.15	9.15-9.35	9.35-9.50	9.50-10.05	10.05-10.20
10KD	10GZ (formerly 9AI)	10TR (formerly 9BD)	10PR (formerly 9BE)	10AD

 

12.00-12.15	12.15-12.25	12.25-12.40	12.40-13.00	13.00-13.15	13.15-13.30
9QH	9EN	9RD	9NS	9KM	9SA

 

Tuesday 7 September – Year 8

9.00-9.10	9.10-9.20	9.20-9.30	9.30-9.40	9.40-9.50
8CE	8ME	8MC	8BR	8BI

 

• Students/families will be informed of the results, and if the test is negative then the student will be able to start on the next school day.
• Second tests will take part during the school day, finishing on Friday 10 September.
• From that point onwards students will return to testing at home and notifying the school of the result.

 

Students who are already at Larkmead will remember the school’s testing set up and approach which aims to make this as smooth and reassuring as possible. It is really unfortunate that the first day for our new Year 7 students will be a brief visit for a COVID test. These two videos from March 2021 show how the testing site works and share the experience from a Year 7 student’s point of view. Parents of new Year 7 students will have received a letter explaining the testing process and asking for consent. Testing is not compulsory, but is highly recommended by the government.

 

 

These timings reflect the original plans for the return of different year groups, as well as the need to have a second in-school test within 3-4 days of the first test. We do understand that there will be some impact on families and children, and we greatly appreciate everyone’s continued support as we work with government guidance on the return to school.

 

Timetable and bubbles

 

There is a great deal of building work planned over the summer. This includes refurbishment of:

 

• Sixth Form Common Room
• IT Zone to create two new computer rooms and a study area for the Sixth Form
• 4 classrooms
• Canteen
• School Hall

 

There will also be new windows in the main building, with work scheduled to happen in September.

 

With the gym in use for testing and the new windows and doors being fitted in the Hall, we will start the year with the split timetable model that has run for 2020/21. We have additional covered outdoor space and benches for breaks and lunchtime.  

 

Year 7, 8 and 9	Registration	1	Break	2	3	Lunch	4	Registration	5
Years 10, 11, 12 and 13	Registration	1	2	Break	3	4	Lunch	Registration	5

 

We will maintain the different playground zones for students at break and lunchtime during this period. We will share further information with students when they return to school in September.

 

School uniform and changing rooms

From the start of the new school year, students should wear their normal school uniform each day and bring in their kit for PE and dance lessons. Changing rooms will be fully open. We anticipate there being one day a fortnight when Year 7 may need to come to school in PE kit. Further details will follow in September.

 

Wearing of face-coverings

As with all COVID risk assessment measures we will respond to government guidance, the Oxfordshire context and events in school. Under current guidance, face coverings are not recommended for the start of the school year. Students and staff can make a personal choice on the wearing of face coverings.

 

As we look forward to next year, I’d like to thank students, staff and families for the way in which we have managed the pandemic this school year as a community. The partnership between students, school and home has been so important throughout lockdown, remote learning and the return to school. The attitude of Larkmead students has been great, and everyone can be very proud of this.

 

We will continue to review our procedures with a focus on keeping everyone safe and making sure that life at Larkmead is as enriching and enjoyable as possible for everyone. If you do have any questions then please make contact with the school.

 

Best wishes for an enjoyable, restful and safe summer.

 

Jonathan Dennett

Headteacher

Larkmead School