COVID-19
Sir Thomas Boughey Academy (Part of United Endeavour Trust) – Living With Covid-19
This April we have seen the removal of previous Covid-19 restrictions and look forward to continuing to work our way out of the difficulties that we have faced during the pandemic. We do, however, recognise that the global pandemic is not yet over, and we are not yet at a stage where we can consider Covid-19 as endemic. It continues to be an uncertain path that we now take where new and existing variants may continue to circulate and where outbreaks may occur. We continue to be vigilant and monitor the position in relation to our academy populations and those of our surrounding communities. At all times, we follow the most up-to-date advice and guidance from the government and our local Public Health Team.
Basic hygiene continues to be very important, and we will maintain an expectation that our staff and students follow good respiratory hygiene by following the ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ requirement to use tissues; clean hands regularly; and that we maintain good ventilation in our classrooms, meeting spaces and communal corridors. Those wishing to wear a face covering may do so.
There have been significant changes to requirements to test and isolate. From 1st April 2022 we are asking staff who are ill with Covid-19 to stay at home for at least 5 days, when they are most infectious. Students with Covid-19 are asked to stay at home only if they have a fever or are too unwell to attend. Close contacts of a case no longer need to isolate, and we will no longer be providing Lateral Flow Test kits for testing. Alongside the government, we continue to encourage those who are unvaccinated to take the opportunity to receive a jab.
We enter a phase where we need to maintain resilience and, through on-going surveillance, we will continue to update our contingency planning. We remain prepared to support local or national responses to possible mass vaccination and testing in an emergency.
Workforce and student absence has been very challenging through the winter, and we ask that families understand the constraints that this sometimes puts on providing cover.
Supporting our students to be ready for coming examinations or to catch-up learning missed remains a priority, along with supporting those who have struggled with their mental health during this period. Services are continuing to struggle to return to pre pandemic levels, but we are committed to supporting all in our community as best we can with the resources that we have.
We are optimistic about the future and about our students’ life chances and we will do all that we can to build resilient citizens ready for the next phase of living with Covid-19.