Letter to Parents/Carers – December 2020

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope this letter finds you safe and well.

Thank you very much for all your support this term. It’s been a long haul! The demands that have been placed on both staff and students have been extremely challenging. The whole school community has pulled together and we’ve managed to make things as ‘normal’ as possible. It is disappointing that we are not able to hold our Christmas Concert, sing carols in the village or run the annual Turkey Chase. However, we are pushing ahead with Christmas Lunch which will be available to Years 7, 8 and 11 on Tuesday 15^th December and to Years 9 and 10 on Wednesday 16^th December.

On the final day of term, Friday 18^th December, students will be dismissed in Year Groups at 5-minute intervals between 12:00 and 12:20pm (please be aware that there is no 74 or 75 Bus service).  Monday January 4^th is INSET Day. All students are expected back in school for the start of term on Tuesday January 5^th.

To ensure we continue to keep everyone safe it is essential that we are informed of any positive cases of Covid-19 that occur up to and including December 24^th. If your child is tested for Covid-19 and the test result is positive, please email Miss Strong immediately rstrong@patchamhigh.org.uk 

We are looking forward to the New Year and hopeful that the government’s planned programme of vaccination marks the beginning of the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. But for the foreseeable future we still have to maintain Covid-secure protocols in school.

At the moment Brighton and Hove is in Tier 2. Whether or not this is downgraded, we have made the decision to continue with the mandatory wearing of face coverings in all indoor communal areas. This makes for safer movement in the corridor and when set against our risk assessment allows us to adjust the school timetable so that students can move via an adapted one-way system to specialist classes rather than restricting their lessons to year group areas. However, students will remain in Year Group social bubbles during our staggered Break and Lunch and will be expected to use the specific entry points for their year group at the beginning of each school day.

I have attached the amended version of our protocols (Keeping our school COVID secure) that reflects this change and details additional safety measures that we will be introducing in January. These protocols will be shared with all students at the start of term. Please can I ask that you read through the protocols with your child.

Have a good Christmas. And all the very best for 2021.

Kind regards

John McKee

Headteacher