Covid-19 - Latest Updates From the Principal

On this page we will update you with key information relating to the school and Covid-19. Previous updates and letters home can all be found on our Letters Home page.

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Update: 15th January

Online Parent Forum on Remote Learning and Support for SEND Students

Tuesday 19th January 4-4.40pm

Vice Principal Chris Brett and Senco Katherine Price will offer suggestions on how to support SEND pupils with remote learning and life. There will also be a chance for parents and carers to ask questions and share successful tips for home learning with others. 

Parents/ Carers of boys on the SEND Register have been sent information and a link to a zoom meeting.  If you have any particular questions you would like covered in the session, please email them to k.price@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk in advance.

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Update: 14th January

Remote learning update

Dear Parents and Carers

We are really pleased with the way the students have engaged with our remote learning this week.

By following our normal timetable it has ensured students are completing their full curriculum which is vital so that they are not further disadvantaged by COVID-19 and the subsequent school closures.

We are constantly looking to develop our remote learning offer to the students and I would like to thank all parents who were able to share their feedback with us through the recent survey. Some of the key things we are looking to address are:

1. Supporting students with SEND – Katherine Price our SENCO will be contacting parents to get further feedback on the best ways we can adapt the learning to support individual students.
2. Providing parents with feedback on student engagement – We are developing a system which will enable us to provide regular reports to parents.
3. Ensuring lessons are more interactive – We will be starting the process of unlocking the camera feature for students. We will trial this with a small number of students and review the positive impact this has on Teaching and Learning before we look to roll this out across the whole academy.

This third point on the use of student cameras we feel will have an incredibly positive impact on the quality of Teaching and Learning. For the teachers to be able to interact with the students and see their reactions they will be able to address misconceptions and support students who do not understand in a more immediate way.

There are some very clear guidelines that students must follow to ensure the use of cameras is safe and effective:

• Students can only enter a lesson through the ‘lobby’ feature
• Students must blur their background
• Teachers control the presentation and view on students’ screens
• The Academy Behaviour Policy applies to all remote learning and students will be sanctioned for any poor behaviour
• Lessons cannot be recorded at home on any digital device

We also wanted to reiterate to you the importance we believe of safeguarding our students even when they are not with us on-site. If you have any safeguarding concerns please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Vice Principal Ben Bray or any of the student welfare team. Email: B.Bray@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk

Please do visit the Safeguarding page on our website for further information on how to support students during remote learning:

Additionally, in order to support families with remote learning at home we are currently able to offer the following:

• Free desks – Exam desks are available for collection from the Academy for students to borrow and work on at home.
• Laptops – We have already distributed a large number of laptops but if you are still having trouble accessing work on MS Teams we will work with you to try to provide a laptop. Please contact us on info@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk
• Critical Worker and Vulnerable student on-site school – We are operating an on-site school for all Critical Workers and Vulnerable students. You can request a place for your son at this school by contacting us directly at keyworkersprovision@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk
• Data increases - The Department for Education has launched a scheme which temporarily increases data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks so that children can access remote education. You can get help if you do not have fixed broadband at home, cannot afford additional data for your devices, and are experiencing disruption to your child's face-to-face education. Children with access to a mobile phone on one of the following networks might be able to benefit: Three, Smarty, Virgin Mobile, EE, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile. Other providers may join the scheme at a later stage.

In order to contact us regarding the desks, laptops or places at our Critical Worker and Vulnerable school, please email: info@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk or keyworkersprovision@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk

For information and to sign up for the data allowance increase please click HERE.

Once again, thank you for all your support with the students during their remote learning. We know the challenges that educating students at home can create so we are doing everything we can to provide the best offer we can.

Yours sincerely

Peter Groves Principal

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Update: 12th January

Parent survey on remote learning

Please could you take a few minutes to complete this survey. This valuable information will help us to continue to develop our Virtual School experience for students and parents.

Click here to complete the survey now.

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Update: 12th January

Extra mobile data to help with studying

The Department for Education has launched a scheme which temporarily increases data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks so that children can access remote education.

You can get help if you do not have fixed broadband at home, cannot afford additional data for your devices, and are experiencing disruption to your child's face-to-face education.

Children with access to a mobile phone on one of the following networks might be able to benefit: Three, Smarty, Virgin Mobile, EE, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile. Other providers may join the scheme at a later stage.

To apply, please click HERE.

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Over 2,300 e-books now available on Reading Cloud. Read more.

How to access live lessons on Xbox and PlayStation. Read more.

How are we doing? It really mean a lot to us when parents contact us to give us feedback. From a parent: "Organised curriculum, good interaction with teachers. Interesting topics. Thank you to all staff at HBAED for their dedication and hard work." Read more.

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Covid testing

As students begin to physically return to the building, they will begin to benefit from free and fast Covid tests at school, as will our staff. This is a national scheme being organised by all secondary schools in England.

Click HERE to download a letter to parents about Covid testing, including questions and answers.

Click HERE to view our consent form, which should be completed by midnight on Thursday 7 January 2021.

Click HERE to view the privacy notice in relation to Covid-19 testing.

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Remote learning - information for parents

Please see our Remote Learning - Information for Parents page, which has details of what to expect from remote education if local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home. 

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Covid-19 - national advice

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

• new continuous cough and/or
• high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child or anyone in the household does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19.

Hands

• Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.

Face

• Cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
• It is now compulsory to wear cloth face coverings on public transport, shops and several other indoor settings.

Space

• Stay 2 metres apart where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place.
• Keep your distance from people who are outside your household or support bubble.
• Limit social gatherings (including abiding by the ‘rule of 6’) and avoid crowded places.

Further information is available at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare

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Our planning

We are following the most recent government guidance to ensure that the academy is fully compliant with the required health and safety standards. You can also download our Student Guide to Returning to HBAED.

Download our Tier 2-4 Local Restrictions planning document, explaining the plans we have in place.

Download a letter to parents from Public Health England, about 'test and trace', and when to request a test.

As always, and particularly through these challenging times, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us should have any questions or feel we can support in any way.

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Our recovery curriculum - Covid-19

The Recovery Curriculum is our attempt to bridge the gap in learning which took place as a result of Covid-19. It encompasses changes in the overall academy curriculum, subject-specific development, assessment and pastoral support.

We passionately believe that adapting what we are doing this year is best for the students we serve. All the measures put in place form vital parts of the process of recovery for them. Click HERE to read full details of our recovery curriculum.

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Staggered start and finish times

We are staggering the start and dismissal times from September 2020. Please see details below.

	Arrival Time	Entry Gate	Dismissal Times
Year 7	08:15-08:30	Student Gate on Peckham Rye	Mon/Tue/Thur/Fri 14:45 Wed 14.00
Year 8	08:15-08:30	Student Gate on Peckham Rye	Mon/Tue/Thur/Fri 14:45 Wed 14.00
Year 9	08:45-09:00	Student Gate on Peckham Rye	Mon – Thurs 15:15 Fri  14:30
Year 10	09:15-09:30	Friern Road Gate	Mon/Fri 15:00 Tues/Wed/Thurs 16:30
Year 11	9:15-9:30am	Student Gate on Peckham Rye	Mon/Fri 15:00 Tues/Wed/Thurs 16:30

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Getting to the academy

Where possible you must walk or ride a bicycle. If this is not possible and you need to use public transport you must maintain social distancing and follow TfL guidance on wearing a face covering. If you are concerned about this please speak to your tutor or a member of staff.

You must travel alone or with siblings; you are not permitted to wait for friends or meet friends and you are expected to go straight home at the end of the day. On dismissal from the academy students should go straight home each day and avoid congregating outside. Students should not attend local shops or businesses as this will increase the potential for contact between different groups. By following these clear protocols, we will support each other and our local community in our efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Designated bus stops

On dismissal, students in Years 7, 9 and 10 will be directed from Friern Road towards Barry Road so that they can get to their designated bus stops. Students in Year 8 and 11 will be directed to the bus stops nearest to their dismissal gate (Peckham Rye).

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Face coverings - updated government advice

When schools return after the October half-term, in accordance with the guidance we have received from the Government, students in all London secondary schools, will be required to wear face coverings in communal areas, for example, when entering the building and in corridors. They will need to remove their face coverings when they get to their classroom and store them safely in clear bags.

Some students have been wearing face coverings in communal areas anyway, but whilst London is in ‘Tier 2’ everybody should now adhere to this rule.  We recognise that some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings, such as, if they have a physical or mental impairment that prevents them from using one; if you are unsure whether this applies to your child, please contact us.  Likewise, if obtaining a face covering poses a financial difficulty for your family, please let us know and we will provide one. 

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Our overall plan

• The Academy will reopen to students in all year groups in September.
• Students must return to their compulsory education.
• We shall be placing groups of students into ‘bubbles’ in order to reduce the risk of transmission.
• Students will continue to study a broad and balanced curriculum, as you would expect from HBAED.
• Students will return in full academy uniform, including academy bag.

We have taken steps to ensure that the Academy is a Covid-19 secure workplace for staff and students and the safety of our community remains a top priority. We have implemented the following:

• New hygiene rules and hand washing routines for students and staff
• Extensive and advanced thorough cleaning of the Academy
• Floor markings to help students recognise what a safe distance is from each other
• Designated zones for each year group
• A staggered start to the Academy day as well as staggered breaks and lunch times, to reduce contact with others
• Adapted timetable of lessons to reduce movement within the building
• Additional Academy entrances to separate year groups
• Reduction in the number of visitors to the Academy.

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Uniform

All students must wear full HBAED uniform. The uniform includes black trousers that must be school trousers. Chino or jean style trousers are not permitted.  It is also important that your son/ward has the correct shoes. These must be black leather shoes that can be polished.  As autumn and winter approach can I also remind you that HBAED students wear a plain dark coloured coat.  Camouflage style coats are not permitted. Please check our uniform and equipment policy if you would like examples of acceptable uniform.

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Protect yourself from Covid-19

If you are worried whether your child’s symptoms may be Covid-19 related, please click HERE to read a guide from Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

You MUST remain socially-distanced from staff and students at all time. You will be expected to wash/sanitise your hands frequently and it will be required at the following times:

• After coming into school
• After sneezing or coughing
• Before and after handling or eating food
• After going to the toilet.

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Expectations

The following outlines what students must do while at the Academy:

• Arrive to the Academy at your allocated time only
• Students will wash hands before entering the academy building
• Students will wash/sanitise hands before eating
• Students are to remain in their bubble at all times
• Maintain social distancing where appropriate and possible
• Students will avoid using shops before or after school

I have also amended the mobile phone policy whilst students are at the Academy.  We operate a ‘not seen and not heard’ system, so that students are able to carry mobile phones at the Academy in readiness for an NHS Track and Trace App to help control the virus.

We have written to each student’s parent/carer with specific information. Please review this carefully paying close attention to the start and end time for your child’s year group. We do ask for your support at the end of the school day if you are picking your child up, in ensuring that you do not wait outside the Academy which would prevent students and staff from social distancing from yourselves and each other. 

Thank you.

Peter Groves, Principal