Advice from Public Health England and the Department for Education is being updated regularly, as any new information becomes available, we will update parents/carers via this and the Embrace website and text messages notifications. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Update from the principal
03.04.20
Letter distributed to parents and carers providing information and various updates from the principal, Sadie Batstone.
Emotional and physical wellbeing
30.03.20
Letter distributed to parents and carers sharing ideas and resources to support young peoples’ emotional and physical wellbeing during this period.
Year 11 mock exams
30.03.20
We are delaying the full release of mock examination marks and grades for the time being, to allow for continued moderation of papers across the school.
As a result of school closure, government directives in force, as well as staff self-isolation, this process will take longer than originally planned.
At present we are awaiting further guidance from the Department for Education regarding the process they are intending to follow for issuing student results in the summer term, and will update all Year 11 students and their families as soon as we can.
The most up-to-date statement from the Department for Education regarding the 2020 summer exams can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/news/further-update-on-2020-exams
Please be aware of scam emails
26.03.20
We have been made aware of an email scam being sent to parents/carers regarding free school meals during school closures.
The emails states: ‘As schools will be closing, if you’re entitled to free school meals, please send your bank details and we’ll make sure you’re supported’.
We can confirm that this is a fraudulent scam email; it is not from the local authority or the DfE. We urge parents/carers that if you receive any emails like this, please do not respond, and delete immediately
School closure FAQs
24.03.20
Thank you to all parents and carers for bearing with us during these unprecedented times, where we have had to make decisions in response to daily (and hourly) updates. We have received a number of similar queries so have put together this frequently asked questions document to help.
School closure – further information
20.03.20
We have sent you a lot of information over the last few days but have just a few more important things to update you on, which we hope will prove useful. Further information in this letter sent to all parents and carers.
School closure information
19.03.20
Parents and carers will be aware of the government’s announcement yesterday that all
schools in England will close from Monday 23 March onwards. Further details are explained in this letter sent to all parents and carers.
Closure to students in Year 8 and Year 9
18.03.20
Letter sent to parents and carers explaining that we will not be open to students in Year 8 and Year 9 on Thursday 19 March.
Cancellation of extra-curricular activities
17.03.20
Following the government announcement yesterday, please see this letter informing parents and carers that all after school extra-curricular activities at Brockington College, will be cancelled from Wednesday 18 March 2020.
Formal Year 11 revision sessions with subject staff, will continue to take place, as per the revision timetable, but will finish by 4pm. This is, however, subject to change, and we will update parents/carers as appropriate.
Show My Homework access
13.03.20
Letter emailed to all parents/carers
Show My Homework access
Currently schools across the UK are preparing for the possibility of closure due to the Coronavirus. At this point, we don’t know if or when this is likely to happen nor do we know how long any period of closure would last. Should this scenario occur, then we will inform parents/carers and provide more detail at that point.
However, in order that we are ready for such a scenario, our teaching staff have been
preparing work and programmes of study. Should we be in a position where the school
needs to close, our expectation of students would be that they continue to work at home in the same way that they would have done had they been present in school. Therefore, staff will be setting work daily which students will be expected to complete and return to their teachers for feedback.
At Brockington College you will know that we use Show My Homework as a homework setting mechanism. Should we need to close, then the intention is that work will be set for students to complete through Show My Homework, as this is already our normal way of
working and both students and parents/carers are familiar with this tool.
So that we can ensure that all students are able to complete work at home should the need arise, we are asking parents/carers to let us know if they or their child are not able to access Show My Homework or need further help to make sure they are fully set up. Please contact my PA, Diana Walker, via dwa@brockington.leics.sch.uk with any query or where there is an issue with access to Show My Homework, so that we can ensure all students are able to access work ahead of any closure.
Informing the school of travel
11.03.20
Parents/carers should alert the school if they have travelled and returned from any category 1 or category 2 area. Please ensure guidance is followed.
- The latest travel guidance can be found here.
- Further information on what you should do if you are asked to self-isolate can be found here.
Centralising information
11.03.20
Embrace Multi Academy Trust will now centralise information and updates regarding Coronavirus. Please check their website www.embracemat.org regularly (Link to information at the top of the page). As new information becomes available, we will continue to alert parent/carers via text message notifications.
Exam preparation and Ofqual advice
09.03.20
The government recognises that students, parents, schools and colleges will be concerned about the possible impact of coronavirus on the 2020 summer exam series. Ofqual’s advice at this time is to continue to prepare for exams and other assessments as normal.
Ofqual continues to work closely with exam boards, other regulators and the Department for Education to plan for a range of scenarios, as the public would expect. The government’s overriding priorities are fairness to students this summer and keeping disruption to a minimum.
It is still many weeks until exams start and they will issue updated advice if necessary, giving schools and colleges as much notice as possible.
The importance of hygiene
09.03.20
Personal hygiene is the most important way we can tackle COVID-19, especially washing hands more; and the catch it, bin it, kill it strategy for those with coughs and sneezes.
Wash your hands more often, for 20 seconds, with soap and hot water.
In addition to handwashing before eating and after sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and after travelling on public transport. Please help us in reinforcing these simple and effective hand hygiene messages.
Updated travel advice for travellers returning from Italy
09.03.20
- The latest travel guidance can be found here. Please ensure guidance is followed.
- Further information on what you should do if you are asked to self-isolate can be found here.
- Government updates on COVID-19.
Department for Education Coronavirus helpline
02.03.20
Today, the Department for Education have launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Sat and Sun) updated 16.03.20
No school should close in response to a suspected (or confirmed) COVID-19 case unless directed to do so by Public Health England.
Personal hygiene is the most important way we can tackle COVID-19. Please help us in sharing simple and effective hand hygiene messages.
Coronavirus - useful information
27.02.20
Letter emailed to all parents/carers
Coronavirus – useful information
With the safety of students and members of staff in mind, I wanted to contact all parents/carers to reassure you that we are working in close collaboration with the Trust and the local authority to ensure that we keep up-to-date with all information regarding the Coronavirus. Be assured, we are following guidance and recommendations from Public Health England and the Department for Education.
In accordance with guidance, we are reminding students of the importance of hand and respiratory hygiene, as this remains the most important thing people can do to help reduce the spread of infections. Please reinforce this message at home by reminding your son/daughter to carry tissues and use them to catch coughs or sneezes and then put the tissue in the bin, and wash their hands regularly. We have also made the decision to introduce extra cleaning measures, to minimise risk.
The NHS have provided an information overview and answers to frequently asked questions.
We would ask parents/carers to inform the college, where students and families have returned from a Category 1 or Category 2 area as identified here, on or after 19 February 2020. Please ensure that where this is the case, we are made aware and that guidance issued has been followed, including self-isolation and/or seeking medical advice, via 111, as necessary.
If you have any further queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the college.
