Dear Families,
As I am sure you are aware the government have announced that students will return to school from Monday 8th March and so I wanted to share with you how Thomas Gainsborough School will welcome back all our students.
We will be having a phased return to school to enable us to offer all students their first of three rapid tests for covid 19. All students must have three tests during the first two weeks back at school, including those who have already been attending school. These tests must take place three to five days apart and then students will be provided with rapid home test kits to allow them to test themselves twice a week at home.
Testing is voluntary but we would strongly encourage as many students as possible to take part in order to help reduce the prevalence of the virus.
Staff will also be given home testing kits.
Face masks must be worn at all times. Students and staff who are exempt from wearing a mask will be required to wear a lanyard (which we can provide) to indicate this. Masks can be removed when outside or eating at break and lunch time. Teachers may remove their masks inside the classroom to teach as long as they remain socially distanced from the students at all times.
Students must use the hand sanitisers provided, or their own, before entering a classroom. They must adhere to the signage around the school indicating the one - way system, queuing areas and the seating arrangements for break and lunch times, which will be staggered to ease movement around the building as much as we can.
Students will be bubbled within their teaching groups as they were last term and they must adhere to the seating plans that their teachers have produced at all times.
School attendance is now expected unless a student or a member of staff has received a shielding letter as they are clinically extremely vulnerable.
It is vital that we all follow these measures to ensure that we minimise the risk of infection in school and to support us all returning to as much ‘normality’ as is possible at this point.
We are really looking forward to have our school community together again and request that you complete the permission request for the testing of your child and that they return to school as indicated:
Monday March 8th
Year 13, 12 and 11 will receive their tests at the sport centre.
Only Key worker students will attend school.
Only students in years 10, 9, 8 and 7 will have on-line lessons.
Tuesday March 9th
Year 10 and 9 will receive their tests at the sports centre.
Key worker students, Year 11, 12 and 13 will attend school.
Only students in Years 8 and 7 will have on-line lessons.
Wednesday March 10th
Year 8 and 7 will receive their tests at the sports centre.
Key worker students, Years 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 will attend school.
Thursday March 11th
All students in school.
No on-line lessons.
Year 13, 12, 11 will have their second test.
Friday March 12th
All students in school.
Year 10 and 9 have their second test.
Monday March 15th
All students in school.
Year 8 and 7 have their second test.
Tuesday March 16th
All students in school.
Year 13, 12 and 11 have their third test.
Wednesday March 17th
All students in school.
Year 10 and 9 have their third test.
Thursday March 18th
All students in school.
Year 8 and 7 have their third test.
Friday March 19th
All students in school.
Booking the first test appointments will be done by parents using the on-line Parents Evening booking system. Full information about this process will be sent before the end of the week.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. If your question relates specifically to the testing programme please email testing@tgschool.net
Thank you for your on-going support during this most challenging of times.
Kind Regards,
Mrs H Yapp
Acting Headteacher