Coronavirus response update 6th May 2020

I hope this email find you and your families safe and well.

 A few updates today.

As the weather improves, it may be tempting to break the lockdown rules. It is just as important as ever that we all comply. As a reminder, you should only leave or be away from your home for very limited purposes:

• shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
• one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household
• any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home

These reasons are exceptions and a fuller list is set out in the regulations. Even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent away from the home and ensuring that you are two metres apart from anyone outside of your household. The full list of restriction and rules can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

You may have seen that Ofqual have taken some decisions on the process for the awarding of grades for A level, GCSE and EPQ. However, they are peripheral to the main aspects of the consultation and concern only students in years 10 and below who are entered for examinations this year and external students. Ofqual has confirmed that the full results of the consultation will be released later in May. We will, of course, keep you posted.

On the subject of consultations, can I remind you that the closing date for the consultation for vocational, technical and other qualifications closes on Friday 8th May. The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-assessment-and-grading-in-2020. If you have anything you would like to submit, please use the electronic submission on the website above and send it direct to Ofqual.

And finally, today your sons and daughters will have received our Newsflash for A1, A2 and Level 2 students. This electronic publication is a digest of a number of messages and opportunities for students from e-enrichment offers and wellbeing initiatives to free online university courses and seminars. Please encourage them to take a look; there may be something for them in there!

That’s all for today

Take care, look after yourself, your families and each other; be patient and stay positive.

Anton