Arrangements for all Pupils Returning to Mount Carmel RC High School from 8 March 2021
- School life will largely be the same (with only a few minor changes) for pupils and staff as it was during the autumn term with pupils working in year group bubbles and staff moving around school.
- However, there will no longer be a staggered start to the day for pupils and the gates will not be opened until 8.35am but pupils must be in the school building by 8.45am.
- Entry and exit points to school remain largely the same as they were for each year group as follows:
- Year 7 use the pastoral door and go up the stairs to classrooms on the second floor.
- Year 8 use the PE corridor door and will gather in the gym until the year 7s have cleared the corridors for the first 2 weeks and then use the school hall door and gather in the hall as normal after the first 2 weeks. Year 8 will stay in the same rooms.
- Year 9 use the top science door and go straight up the metal stairs to the classrooms on the first floor.
- Year 10 use the door on the science corridor next to the school chapel and go to the science labs and G7
- Year 11 use the DT / RE entrance and go to the classrooms in RE, MFL and DT.
Below is a summary for each year group in school.
Years 8 and 10 still to finish at 2.55pm and all other year groups will finish at 3.00pm.
4. Face Masks:
Government guidelines have been updated and recommend that pupils and staff are advised to wear face covering in classrooms, on corridors and communal areas where social distancing is not possible. We are going to revert back to our policy before Christmas on face coverings. Pupils must wear a face covering on corridors and communal areas. If pupils and staff want to wear a face covering in a classroom they can do so, but it is not compulsory. Staff are advised to wear a face covering on corridors and communal areas or where social distancing is not possible. Pupils do not need to socially distance in their bubble!
We have taken this decision for the following reasons: we think it is unnecessary, unreasonable and unrealistic for all pupils and all staff to wear a face covering at all times in school; local infection rates are significantly reduced; we have a LF testing regime in place to identify asymptomatic cases and reduce the risk of infection; social distancing and additional hygiene arrangements will stay firmly in place.
5. Lateral Flow Testing:
This is a crucial government strategy for schools designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission by identifying pupils and staff who are asymptomatic and reduce the numbers of pupils and staff having to self-isolate for 10 days due to a direct contact with a positive case up to 48 hours beforehand.
All pupils who give consent, will be given 3 Covid tests during the first two weeks back at school and will then be given self-testing kits to complete the test twice a week at home before coming to school.
Staff will demonstrate to pupils how to administer the test on the first of the three tests. Pupils will be asked to clearly explain to staff how to do the second of three tests. Pupils will complete the third test independently in front of the staff.
Some pupils may feel confident to complete the second test independently and some pupils may need more than 3 tests before they are confident to complete the test at home. As always, additional support will be made available as appropriate to pupils and parents.
Pupils and staff who have had the COVID-19 virus will still need to be tested when schools re-open.
This is the link for the online consent form
Please ensure that you have completed and submitted this consent form before 9.00am on Friday 5 March.
6. Arrangements for the Re-opening of School:
Week Beginning Monday 8 March - Following updated guidance we plan to test all pupils who give consent during week beginning Monday 8 March. Parents who do not give consent for their children to be tested will continue to work from home using Show my Homework (SMH) and will not be allowed to return to school until W/B 15 March.
We are strongly encouraging all parents to give consent. This will allow the school community to be safer and significantly reduce the risk of transmission but will also respect parents who are not able or prepared to do this.
We have not finalised details yet but are exploring alternative arrangements on site for pupils who do not give consent to be tested so they and others are safe on-site but not disadvantaged regarding the quality of their education.
Year 11
Monday 8 March am - M band pupils to arrive through the back gate, go to DT / Pod area and go into the 12-Star Diner anytime between 8.00am and 9.00am. Pupils collect their results cards and wait to be tested. After being tested, pupils are shown what a positive or negative result looks like before going to the sports hall to wait for their results. Once their tests have been completed, they go to their form room for the remainder of period 1 and then period 2 will be back on timetable.
C band pupils are to arrive between 9.00am and 9.30am through their entrance. Same process as the M band above.
All Year 11 are expected to wear full school uniform and bring into school their COVID-19 workbooks.
Year 11s then have Tuesday and Wednesday on timetable apart from Period 1 for Tuesday and Wednesday which will be extended form time.
Year 10
Monday 8 March pm - M band to arrive through the Pastoral entrance anytime between 1.00pm and 2.00pm. Pupils collect their results cards and wait in the 12-Star Diner to be tested. Once the pupils have been tested, they can leave the building. Pupils will only be contacted if they return a positive result.
C band pupils are to arrive between 2.00pm and 3.00pm. Same process as M band above.
Year 10 are not expected to wear school uniform on Monday afternoon to take their test but are expected to be in full school uniform and bring into school their COVID-19 workbooks on Tuesday.
Year 10s then have Tuesday and Wednesday on ‘normal’ timetable apart from Period 1 for Tuesday and Wednesday which will be form time
Year 7
Tuesday 9 March am - M band to arrive through Pastoral entrance and into the 12-Star Diner anytime between 8.00am and 9.00am. Pupils collect their results cards and wait to be tested. After being tested, pupils are shown what a positive or negative result looks like before going to the sports hall to wait for their results. Once their tests have been completed, they go to their tutors for the remainder of period 1 and then period 2 will be normal timetable.
C band pupils are to enter school between 9.00am and 9.30am and go to the 12-Star Diner. Same process as the M band.
All Year 7 are expected to wear full school uniform and bring in to school their COVID-19 workbooks.
Year 7s then have Wednesday and Thursday on ‘normal’ timetable apart from Wednesday Period 1 which will be tutor time.
Year 8
Tuesday 9 March pm - M band to arrive through their normal gym entrance anytime between 1.00pm and 2.00pm. Pupils collect their results cards and wait in the 12-Star Diner to be tested. Once the pupils have been tested, they can leave the building. Pupils will only be contacted if they return a positive result.
C band pupils will arrive between 2.00pm and 3.00pm. Same process as M band.
Year 8 are not expected to wear school uniform on Tuesday afternoon to take their test but are expected to be in full school uniform and bring into school their COVID-19 workbooks on Wednesday.
Year 8s then have Wednesday and Thursday on ‘normal’ timetable apart from Wednesday Period 1 which will be tutor time.
Year 9
Wednesday 10 March am - M band to arrive at school through the main reception and go into the 12-Star Diner anytime between 8.00am and 9.00am. Pupils collect their results cards and wait to be tested.
After being tested, pupils are shown what a positive or negative result looks like before going to the sports hall to wait for their results. Once their tests have been completed, they go to their tutors for the remainder of period 1 and then period 2 will be normal timetable.
C band pupils are to arrive between 9.00am and 9.30am. Same process as the M band.
All Year 9 are expected to wear full school uniform and bring in to school their COVID-19 workbooks.
Year 9s then have Thursday and Friday on ‘normal’ timetable.
7. Teaching on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be set on SMH until each year group has had their first test in school.
8. Summary of testing arrangements:
- For the first test, pupils will be shown what to do at all stages of the testing process.
- For the second test, pupils must talk the tester through all testing stages and if confident be given the option to do it themselves in front of the tester.
- For the pupils’ third test, all pupils carry out all testing stages under supervision of an adult.
- For the second and third tests, pupils go back to class while they wait for their results.
W/commencing 8 March –
W/commencing 15 March –
9. Additional Information:
- All pupils will need to return to school with a mask. These are classed as essential items of full school uniform.
- There will be no free school meal packs from Monday 8 March. Year 8 and 9 food parcels for the week commencing 1 March will have extra items to compensate for them not having access to a FSM on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 March.
- Monday 8 March onwards – pupils not in school yet for first test will continue to follow online learning through Show My Homework as done through Lockdown 3.
- Pupils are to wear full school uniform in school apart from days when they are timetabled to have a PE lesson. On PE days they can wear their full PE kit to school.
- Lunchtime arrangements will be the same as the autumn term with pupils having the opportunity to purchase food or bring a packed lunch.
- Increased provision for allowing pupils to get outside at lunchtime will be available.
- Pupils are reminded to bring their own basic school equipment (pens, pencils etc) as these items cannot be shared and their COVID-19 workbooks for their subject teachers.
Dated Wednesday 3 March 2021.