As promised last Thursday, with Year 8 at home today and tomorrow to conduct their learning online, we have this morning reviewed our COVID-19 infection levels.

Despite the return of many students following their 10 day self-isolation, our infection rates amongst staff and students remain stubbornly high, at around 10% in each of Years 7 to 10 and around 3-5% in Years 11 to 13.

We have correspondingly high infection rates amongst our staff body, meaning that we are unable to effectively staff the curriculum due to substantial staff absence.

As such, we need to put contingency arrangements in place, in order to be sure that we can effectively staff the curriculum for all students at all times.

In order to manage this situation, ensuring that we are being as fair as we can to all year groups, our plan is:

  • Monday 11 October  – Year 8 curriculum online (working from home)
  • Tuesday 12 October – Year 8 curriculum online (working from home)
  • Wednesday 13 October – Year 9 curriculum online (working from home)
  • Thursday 14 October  – Year 9 curriculum online (working from home)
  • Friday 15 October – Year 7 curriculum online (working from home)
  • Monday 18 October – Year 7 curriculum online (working from home)
  • Tuesday 19 October  – Flu vaccinations – All Students needed in school
  • Wednesday 20 October – Year 10 curriculum online (working from home)
  • Thursday 21 October – Year 10 curriculum online (working from home)
  • Friday 22 October – All in school

This proposed action is based on the comparatively low infection levels in the upper years, but may change if these increase.

We as parent/carers to work on the assumption that this is what we will need to do, in order to help with planning.

If we are able to keep year groups in school because of falling rates of staff absence, we will let parent/carers know immediately.

We would also like to share a letter sent to all parents/carers from the Secretary of State for Health & Secretary of State for Education – Letter to secondary school parents – Education and Health Secretary


Written by The Bewdley School | Published on 11th October 2021