Announcement
Pupil return to school
We are looking forward to welcoming all Fitzalan pupils to school for the beginning of the new school year. Please take your time to read through the pupil handbook where you will find all the measures we are taking for your safe return to school.
Fitzalan High school: Pupil Handbook, September 2020
We are looking forward to welcoming you back to Fitzalan for the start of the new school year. Please read this handbook before you come back to school and follow all the safety strategies when you are in school. Fitzalan will be safe for everyone if we all play our part in protecting ourselves and each other. A copy is also available on the website, which you can translate into different languages by clicking on the ‘world’ icon at the top of the website home page.
1. Health and Safety
a. Social distancing
Please stay at least 2m distance from staff when in school and in lessons. You will be taught in the same teaching group as far as possible so that you only come into contact with a limited number of other pupils. There will be seating plans in place to ensure that you only come into contact with a limited number of pupils, who will form part of your bubble. You will only move groups for options and for specialist interventions. During break and lunch time and when walking around the school, always try to maintain a social distance. Always give way to anyone coming down the stairs, or out of a building.
b. First aid
If you or someone you live with has symptoms of COVID-19, do not attend school. Please contact school to inform us of your absence. If you become unwell in school, please tell a teacher immediately.
The signs of COVID -19 identified by Public Health Wales are:
· A high temperature
· A new continuous cough
· Loss of smell or taste
More information can be found at https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, make sure that you book a test at the test centre at Cardiff City as soon as possible. Use this link to book your test https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/test-type Please engage fully with the Track and Trace system to help minimise the spread of Coronavirus. Use this link to find out more information about Track and Trace https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-html
c. Cleaning and hygiene
i. When you arrive in school for the first time in September, please go straight to the main yard. On all other days, you can go to your classroom for the start of the day.
ii. Use of rooms. Please only use the room that is on your timetable. Do not enter any office or room with a no entry sign on it. Doors and windows will be open to make sure that each room is well ventilated.
iii. Cleaning team. The cleaning team will be on site throughout the day to clean corridors, and toilets regularly. Please make sure that you keep all your belongings with you. Please make sure that you clean your desks when moving classrooms
iv. Personal hygiene. There are additional hand washing stations and hand sanitiser points around the school. Please wash your hands when you arrive in school, and regularly for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitiser before and after touching areas that are also used by others
d. Catering. School dinners will be available for all pupils from Monday 7th September. If you are on free school meals, your direct payment will continue until Friday 4th September. Please bring all your food and drink with you for Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September. From Monday 7th September, the catering staff will be providing ready packaged food from all outlets. Each year group will have a designated food outlet and a designated zone to spend break and lunch time in.
e. Signage. Please follow the one way systems and the instructions on all signs with regard to entry and exit into buildings. Please make sure that you always give way to people coming down the stairs or out of a building.
f. Toilets. Please follow the signs on the outer door of each toilet regarding use. Please give way to a person coming out of the toilets. Please wash your hand thoroughly after using the toilets. Each year group will have a designated set of toilets to use.
g. Face coverings. We are following the updated guidance from the LA with regard to face coverings. Each pupil and member of staff will be issued with 2 washable face masks for them to use in school. Face masks will need to be worn in inside communal areas where social distancing may not be possible such as school corridors or at break and lunch time. You should also wear your face mask on the school bus. You do not need to wear your face mask during normal lessons as there are strategies in place to minimise close contact. Where pupils and staff are working together as part of specialist interventions, they will need to wear their face masks. Please make sure that you wear the face mask that you are issued with and that it is washed regularly. You will receive instructions about how to use your face mask as part of your induction.
h. Safeguarding. Please contact Mrs Rees or your Head of Year is you have any concerns.
i. Wellbeing. If you have any worries or concerns, please contact your Head of Year.
2. Timetable and curriculum. There will be no bells. Please use your phone to set alarms for your lesson timings each day.
a. Timings. The table below shows the timings for each school day
|
Year Groups 7, 11, 12, 13 and ESOL |
Session start |
Session end |
|
Year Groups 8, 9, 10 |
Session start |
Session end |
|
Registration |
08.30 |
08.48 |
|
Registration |
08.48 |
09.05 |
|
Lesson 1 |
08.48 |
09.40 |
|
Lesson 1 |
09.05 |
09.58 |
|
Lesson 2 |
09.40 |
10.33 |
|
Lesson 2 |
09.58 |
10.49 |
|
Break |
10.33 |
10.49 |
|
Lesson 3 |
10.49 |
11.41 |
|
Lesson 3 |
10.49 |
11.41 |
|
Break |
11.41 |
11.57 |
|
Lesson 4 |
11.41 |
12.32 |
|
Lesson 4 |
11.57 |
12.48 |
|
Lunch |
12.32 |
13.04 |
|
Lesson 5 |
12.48 |
13.41 |
|
Lesson 5 |
13.04 |
13.57 |
|
Lunch |
13.41 |
14.13 |
|
Lesson 6 |
13.57 |
14.48 |
|
Lesson 6 |
14.13 |
15.05 |
3. Daily routines
a. School uniform. Please wear full school uniform. If you have PE, you will receive instructions from the PE department about PE kit: you will be able to come to school in your Fitzalan PE kit with your school jumper/blazer on the days that you have practical PE
b. Behaviour and restorative approaches. Please see the information below ‘Fitzalan’s COVID-19 Expectations’ and the ‘Fitzalan COVID-19 on call’.
c. Equipment. Bring all your books and equipment to school each day: you can use the equipment from the resource pack that you were given when we returned to school in July. The teachers will not be able to lend pens etc to you.
d. Please wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and use the hand sanitiser regularly.
4. Transport. Where possible, walk or cycle to school. The school buses should be running as normal, please contact Cardiff Bus for further information. Please wear a mask on the bus: dispose of it safely when you arrive in school, or keep it safe in a plastic bag during the school day. Cars will not be allowed to park in front of the school on Lawrenny Avenue.
Frequently asked questions
Our plan for return to school in September for all pupils follows the WG guidance: please follow the link https://gov.wales/operational-guidance-schools-and-settings-autumn-term-covid-19
How is the school addressing the higher risk faced by people from BAME backgrounds?
We are determined that any pupil, staff member or visitor who comes to Fitzalan is safe. We are doing everything possible to make sure that is the case. We recognise that for our BAME families the statistics that show a higher risk must be especially frightening. All the measures we have put in place are designed to ensure that the risks are kept to a minimum for all. Additional cleaning is in place. Extra hand-washing stations are in place for pupils to wash their hands at the start of every session. Hand sanitiser will be freely available around the school site. No-one with any symptoms should come on site. In the case of a pupil developing symptoms while in school, the school first aider will ensure they are safe until a parent/carer can take them home. If this is the case, please collect your child as quickly as possible. Any member of staff developing symptoms will be sent home. All Public Health Wales guidance will be followed and the relevant people contacted.
How will pupils get to school safely?
We recommend that pupils walk or cycle to school. If pupils are cycling (or skating or scooting) to school, they should wear a helmet. Pupils who travel on the school bus should wear a mask while on the bus.
How will pupils need to enter the buildings? Where will they need to go?
When pupils arrive on site on their first day at school in September, they should go to the main school yard where they will be welcomed and given instructions on where they need to go and how they should enter the building. A full induction will take place for all pupils.
How will the school day be structured?
The day has been staggered so that different year groups have different start and finish times and break and lunch times. This will reduce the number of pupils around the site at any one time. All pupils will be taught in the same room and in the same teaching group, apart from options and specialist interventions. Please see the timings in the pupil handbook for more information.
Who will be in school?
Years 7, 10, 12 and 13 will start back on Thursday 3rd September.
ESOL will start back on Friday 4th September
Years 8, 9 and 11 will start back on Monday 7th September.
Please see the pupil handbook for timings for the start days: these vary so that we can carry out our induction sessions safely.
Which days will my child be expected to attend school?
From Monday 7th September, all pupils will be in school every day.
Will pupils need to wear uniform?
Yes, pupils should wear full school uniform, and bring all their equipment for the lessons to school each day.
Will pupils (and staff) wear face masks?
Updated guidance has been issued regarding face masks. All pupils and staff will be issued with two washable face masks to wear in corridors and other inside communal areas and also if using public transport to travel to and from school. They do not need to wear face masks outside and in lessons.
Will there be routines for hand-washing? How will these be monitored?
Additional handwashing stations have been ordered so there will be plenty of facilities available. Pupils will be expected to wash their hands before each session. Staff will be on duty to ensure that this is the case.
Will there be hand sanitiser available?
Hand sanitiser will be freely available around the school site and pupils encouraged to use it regularly.
How will the school implement social distancing? In classrooms? Moving around the school? In open spaces at break times? At entrances and exits?
Staggered start times will help ensure pupils are able to remain within their ‘bubble’ they arrive in school. Staff will be on duty to welcome and direct pupils. There will be a one-way system in place in corridors. Pupils will remain in the same teaching group and same classroom for most their lessons. Outside of lessons, the areas for break and lunch time have been zoned so that the year groups remain separate. The start and end of the school day, and break and lunch times have been staggered to reduce the number of pupils around the school.
How will you teach pupils how they need to behave in school?
All pupils will receive a full induction on their first day. We have updated the Fitzalan expectations and on call processes to keep everyone safe.
What lessons will pupils have?
Pupils will follow their normal timetable, but will be taught in the same teaching group for most of their lessons. Most pupils will remain in the same room for their lessons and therefore may not have access to specialist teaching rooms.
Will online learning continue to be offered?
All pupils need to return to school for their face to face lessons with their teachers. A blended learning approach is being developed so that support work, research tasks, preparation and homework will be on line. If a child has to self-isolate because of a positive test result for coronavirus, then work will be provided remotely.
How will the school ensure high quality teaching and learning for all pupils with blended learning?
Staff have been taking part in professional learning sessions to develop their expertise and we are learning from each other, from other schools and from other nations. The work set is reviewed by Heads of Departments and the Curriculum Access Team is working hard to support pupils with Additional Learning Needs.
How will children who have lost loved ones in this be supported?
We would encourage anyone who has a child who has been bereaved to let your child's Head of Year know. With you, they will be able to work out how best to support your child. Some pupils will welcome expressions of sympathy and support, while others will not want to talk about their loss. There is a link to bereavement advice on the school website. We will work with you and your child(ren) to support them as best we can. The school will continue to offer pastoral care for all pupils and they will be able to access support from the emotional support team. Any pupils needing further support can access the school based counsellor.
What do the scientists say the risk to our children is if they return to school?
Please see Welsh Government advice: https://gov.wales/coronavirus
Will pupils and staff have health checks before being able to enter the school?
Please check your child is well before sending them to school. Do not send your child to school if they are unwell. No-one with any Covid-19 symptoms will be allowed into school.
How will the school operate with track and trace?
We encourage everyone to act responsibly in reporting symptoms. Where we are notified of an instance of coronavirus we will act swiftly in accordance with the directions from Public Health Wales.
Should children with healthcare needs attend school?
All children should return to school in September. Please be guided by the medical specialists with regard to any healthcare needs your child may have.
What will happen if I choose not to send my child?
All pupils should attend school: the research shows that children need to be back in school. Do not send your child to school if they are unwell.