Covid-19 - Latest Updates From the Principal

On this page, I will update you with key information relating to the school and Covid-19, so that you always have the latest details in one place.

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Latest Update: 16th October

Wearing face coverings in school

Dear Parents and Carers

As we come to the end of our first half term I would like to thank you all for your support in keeping our Academy and its community safe and well by following the Covid-19 restrictions that have been put in place.

I am so proud of the way our students and staff have worked hard together to ensure that the boys’ learning has continued successfully and smoothly despite the new way we have had to work.

We are very much looking forward to having students back at school on Monday 2 November. The usual staggered start times will apply for all year groups. As you will have seen on the news, London is set to move into Tier 2 of the Government’s Covid alert system from midnight tonight (Friday 16 October 2020)

For all of us, this means that there is a ban on mixing with other households indoors. When schools return after half-term, as per the guidance we have received from the government, students in all London secondary schools will be required to wear face coverings in communal areas, such as 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.

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. Please ensure that your son’s face mask is plain and not decorated with logos or designs.

The welfare and safety of our Academy community is uppermost in our minds. If you have any safeguarding concerns or are worried about your on-line safety please contact us on safeguarding@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk

Please keep an eye on our website for any news and updates that may affect your son’s learning. Why not download the free app (from the website homepage) so that you can be alerted automatically to any news items from the Academy?

On that note can I remind you that you need to keep us fully informed if you change your telephone number or email address – this is easily done using our Contact Us page.

Finally can I wish you all a happy holiday and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday 2 November 2020.

Yours sincerely

Peter Groves, Principal

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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.

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.

Peter Groves, Principal

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Our planning

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.

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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

Note to parents: We know that there is an issue regarding the supply of blazers from our uniform supplier, Stevensons. We have been informed they will be in stock from September 7th. Any student not in Year 7 who is awaiting delivery of their Academy blazer should bring a note into the Academy. For these students, the blazer will be compulsory from Monday 14th September.

All students must wear full HBAED uniform (though see note about blazers above). 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