Headteachers Letter – 28th May 2021

Dear parents and carers,

Thank you for all of your support over the past half term and I hope that you manage some time to relax over the bank holiday weekend and half term break.

 

Coronavirus Update and Contact Tracing

We had a confirmed positive case yesterday in the Year 10 bubble. The student has suffered with symptoms but is recovering at home. We have sent all best wishes on behalf of the school.  Thank you to all staff, students and parents who helped with the close contact tracing and subsequent isolations yesterday. Once again we were able to take all actions  quickly and efficiently, although I do recognise that the significant disruption that a positive case visits, particularly so close to half term. We do of course have to follow all national guidance at all times and our aim remains to maintain as safe an environment as possible. The current level of positive cases has been relatively low since Easter,  although we do know of schools in neighbouring areas who are continuing to deal with numerous positive cases and accompanying isolations on a daily basis – so we must remain vigilant and realise social distancing wherever possible.

As is now customary, schools have again been asked to carry out contact tracing  during the school holidays and  we will use a similar model to that which has proved successful at weekends and in previous holiday periods.  Close contacts can be identified for the 48 hour period prior to the onset of symptoms or the date of the positive test result.

 

For Symptomatic cases:

  • If students have any of the coronavirus symptoms (high temperature, continuous cough or loss/changes to taste or smell), please arrange for a PCR test and self isolate immediately along with all members of the household. To book a PCR test: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
  • If the PCR is positive  – please email myself and Wayne Taylor birkettj@wollaston-school.net taylorw@wollaston-school.net and provide contact details.
  • I will check emails each morning daily, at both weekends and during the holidays for any positive test notifications. If you do notify during the afternoon, this will be picked up during the following morning.
  • In the event of a positive case, I will be in touch and go through the contact tracing interview – and then action any required close contact self isolation notices.

 

For Asymptomatic Lateral Flow Testing:

  • If  a positive lateral flow test is received during asymptomatic testing, please self isolate immediately (along with your household) and arrange a confirmatory PCR Test. www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
  • On receipt of the positive lateral flow test result, please email myself and Wayne Taylor birkettj@wollaston-school.net taylorw@wollaston-school.net and provide contact details.
  • I will check emails each morning daily, at both weekends and during the holidays for any positive test notifications. If you do notify during the afternoon, this will be picked up during the following morning.
  • In the event of a positive Lateral Flow test, I will be in touch and go through the contact tracing interview – and then action any required close contact self isolation notices.
  • Once you have the confirmatory PCR test result, please email myself and Wayne Taylor  birkettj@wollaston-school.net taylorw@wollaston-school.net with the result of the PCR test.
  • If the PCR test is positive, all isolations remain in place.
  • If the PCR test is negative, all isolations can cease. I will contact all close contact isolations to advise them that these have been rescinded.

 

Congratulations to Year 11 and Year 13

The end of this half term sees the conclusion to the overwhelming majority of assessments for GCSE, A Level, Vocational and BTEC awards.  Thank you for your incredible support of our students and the staff who are working with them in such an unprecedented approach to qualification awards. Our students have been magnificent in coping with these changes and have worked on all assessments with positivity and purpose.  Students will return to school after the break, with a greater focus on non assessed learning and transitional activities to prepare them for the next stage in their education or employment.

 

Traffic Works on Irchester Road 7-9th June 2021

You may have seen signage near the front of school advising of road closures immediately outside Wollaston School starting on the first Monday back after half term. The closures were originally scheduled for between 8am and 6pm.

I have been in contact with the developer and outlined our objections to the timings of these works – as they would be likely to create chaotic and dangerous traffic conditions at both the start and end of school. I did also  point out that the week prior to the 7th June 2021 was a period of school closure and would be a far better week to schedule these works!

Unfortunately this date change is not possible, but they have agreed to the following:

Works to be completed between 9.30 am and 2.30pm.  The signage has been altered to reflect this (although inaccurately to 9.30am – 3.30pm. I have been in contact again to stress the importance of a 2.30pm finish).

Access to residents (including staff and visitors to Wollaston School) will be possible throughout the day – although there may be a short wait for access as some equipment needs to be cleared.

I remain slightly cautious of the likely impact of these works – and of course are trusting the work crews to stick rigidly to these timings. I will also visit the site on Monday 7th June to seek assurances that school operations will be affected as little as possible by these works.

 

Remembering Mark Wade 11th June 2021

We will hold a full school assembly (via zoom into all tutor rooms) on Friday the 11th June to remember our much loved and respected teacher and colleague, Mark Wade. This will feature shared memories from students and staff, as well as celebrating Mark’s great humour, kindness and warmth towards every member of the school and wider community.

Mr Wade’s sense of humour and fun was fairly legendary  – and he was no stranger to wearing outrageous ties of fairly garish colours!  Mr Wade also kept a good stock in his form room, and if any of his  tutees were foolish enough to forget their school tie – a replacement was provided by their delighted form tutor – usually bright orange or green!

In memory of this – we would like to invite  all students and staff to wear a bright, garish or comedy tie on Friday 11th June 2021. We will remind students again once we return after half term and will invite donations to the Northampton Food Bank in Mark Wade’s name.

 

Have a great half term, stay safe and I hope that you enjoy a relaxing break with your families and loved ones.

Mr James Birkett 

Headteacher