Face coverings in schools; how to make it work -Download the documentation Face coverings in school

Denbighshire County Council statement:

“In light of the recent announcement, and advice received by the Welsh Government Chief Medical Officer, we strongly recommend the use of face coverings where social distancing cannot be maintained in communal areas in secondary schools. Students/pupils and staff will need to wear a face covering when moving through shared indoor areas of the school where it is difficult to adhere to social distancing measures. This includes corridors, stairways and as previously stated on designated home to school transport. Face coverings will not be required outside or in classrooms.”

Decision taken by the Denbighshire County Council:

• All students/pupils should wear a face covering when accessing school transport.

Corridors and shared areas:

• We have introduced control mechanisms such as one way systems, single file and having teachers move around the school rather than pupils to reduce the number of people on the corridors. However, due to the potential of crowding and the unavoidable mixing of cohort group we advise that students/pupils and staff wear face covering in the corridors.

Classrooms:

• Control mechanisms such as hand sanitising, cleaning of surfaces, no shared materials and all desks facing the one direction are already in place to minimise the spread of the virus. There is no requirement for students/pupils and staff to wear face coverings in the classroom, however they may choose to do so.

Laboratories or other specialist settings:

• Face coverings may represent an additional fire of toxicity risk and therefore face coverings are not recommended.

Sport/dance/exercise:

Face coverings are not recommended whilst undertaking physical exercise.

In the diner:

• Face coverings are not practical during eating, however, students/pupils and staff should wear a face covering whilst they queue to enter the diner.

Frequently asked questions:

What is a face covering?

A face covering principally acts to protect others by reducing airborne transmission of COVID-19. It does not protect the wearer from infection from others.

What is Denbighshire’s policy on face coverings?

The evidence remains clear that the most effective way to protect yourself and others from infection is to follow social distancing rules, avoid touching surfaces and your face, and wash your hands regularly. Face coverings are not a substitute for these measures, but in some circumstances where it might be difficult to stay 2 metre away from others, we are advising Face coverings in schools; how to make it work

the use of three-layer, non-medical face coverings. Students/pupils and staff should wear a face covering on school transport and in communal areas.

What kind of face covering should students/pupils and staff wear?

To provide any protection to others, face coverings need to be made, worn, handled and disposed of in a certain way. Unfortunately, many of the home made masks being worn offer little protection to the wearer or those around them. The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum of three layers in a face covering.

How should students/pupils use their face covering?

• Watch this video from the World Health Organisation with your child so they know how to wear their face covering safely. They will also be shown this video on class. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tv2BVN_WTk
• Face covering needs to be appropriate and cover their nose and mouth when they’re wearing it.
• Students/pupil should not touch the front of the face covering or the part that’s touched their mouth or nose.
• If the face mask becomes damp, students/pupils shouldn’t wear it, and they should replace it carefully.

How should I care for my reusable face covering?

• If you are using a reusable face covering, store it in a plastic bag until you can wash it.
• Wash it in line with manufacturer’s instructions at the highest temperature appropriate for the fabric. You can use your normal detergent and you can wash and dry it with other laundry.
• Do not give it to someone else to use.
• You must throw away your face covering if it is damaged.
• Make sure you clean any surfaces the face covering has touched using normal household cleaning products.

How can face coverings be disposed of responsibly?

• Remove the face covering carefully – do not touch the front of the face covering or the part which has been in contact with your mouth and nose.
• Place your face covering in a COVID litter bin or take it home in a plastic bag/school bag.
• Do not put single use face coverings in recycling bins as they can’t be recycled.
• You do not need to put them in an extra bag or store them for a time before throwing them away.
• Please remember to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser immediately after removing your face covering and throwing it away.

What if my child forgets their face covering?

• We’ll have a small supply of spares available at school.
• To be safe in the knowledge that everyone has one, please make sure your child has their own so that we can keep our supply of spares for emergencies.

Content is accurate and up to date, however is subject to change depending on Welsh Government and/or DCC directives. We will notify you of any changes via our social media.

Dear Parents/Carers

I do hope you all had some form of ‘normal’ summer break with your family and managed to get some rest and time for relaxation before we return back to school.

As outlined in my letter sent out in the last week of term, we will be returning to full capacity for all pupils and students as soon as possible. There will be a phased return over the first 2 weeks and we will have all year groups back for education everyday by the 10th September. Attendance to school will be compulsory by the 14th September and we would like to get back to full time teaching of our amazing pupils before this date.

The booklet that accompanies this letter will explain in detail how we will keep pupils and staff safe, how the school will be organised and how we will get back to full capacity. All of the planning is based on the latest guidance from Welsh Government. We have made sure that the health and safety of all pupils and staff is our top priority whilst also developing a system by which all pupils and students can return in September. The arrangements for all aspects of the school are included in this booklet so please read it carefully so that you know when your son or daughter returns to school, where they are to go and how their day will be structured.

We will deliver a full, broad and balanced curriculum to our pupils alongside a pastoral focus on learner wellbeing to help with recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. School will feel as ‘normal’ as possible with any changes for the pupils kept to a minimum.

This guidance document contains all of the new organisational arrangements on how we will operate in September.

The great response we received from all pupils, staff and parents during the last three weeks in July was exceptional and we will need a similar response for the new academic year so that we can all get through this difficult time without impacting the progress of our young people. The next academic year will bring challenges and difficulties, but if we come together once again as a community, we will not only rise to meet these challenges, we will be stronger when this is over.

If you have any questions please email prestatyn.high@denbighshire.gov.uk or contact the school through the normal channels and we will answer any of your questions or concerns.

I look forward to the new academic year and I am excited of what we can all achieve together.

Best wishes and I will see you all soon

Neil Foley
Headteacher

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/news/August-2020/advice-for-those-using-public-transport-to-travel-to-school.aspx

Denbighshire County Council is advising parents and guardians of children travelling on public buses that owing to social distancing and reduced capacity on public transport, those using public bus services may be adversely impacted.

Parents and guardians of children and young people using public transport to travel to school or college are being advised to make alternative arrangements during the first weeks of term.

The Council is currently working with bus companies to ensure that extra buses are provided to increase capacity where possible.

Cllr Brian Jones the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “Owing to reduced capacity on public transport to ensure social distancing, wherever possible we are putting on extra services for school and college learners, and we are working to ensure they can travel to school safely, which is of paramount importance.

“We understand this is a very difficult time for parents and we want to assure them that we are working to make sure the return to school runs as smoothly as possible.

“However, owing to a number of pressures associated with Covid-19, we are asking parents who are able to transport their children to school or college to do so for the first two weeks of term or, where possible, to encourage the use of active travel.

“Those parents who can transport their children to school or college are asked to walk where possible or to park further away from school to avoid congestion.

“Parents of all pupils aged over 11 using school buses or public transport to get to school are also reminded they need to wear a face covering while using buses, coaches and where appropriate taxis.”

Some schools are also using staggered times which will impact transport to and from school and parents are being advised to check with their school.

Timetables for public bus services have also been impacted by Covid-19 and parents should check their local provider for the most up to date information.

Denbighshire County Council have recently updated their school transport protocols. Please note that this protocol could be affected by changes to national guidance.

It is the parents’ responsibility:

• To ensure pupils do not travel on school transport if anyone in the household has COVID-19 symptoms.
• To ensure your child has a supply of face coverings before travelling each morning and afternoon. Your child must wear a face covering unless medically exempt. Pupils will not be permitted to board the vehicle if they are not wearing a face covering.
• To acknowledge zero tolerance for poor behaviour on transport. Any pupil who demonstrates poor behaviour, and puts the safety of others at risk, will have transport withdrawn with immediate effect.
• To ensure pupils sanitise their hands before leaving home to board their vehicle.
• Remind learners they must board and alight transport in single file and 2 metres apart.
• Remind pupils they must follow any instructions by their driver and try and minimise the number of surfaces they touch.
• To ensure they have a contingency in places should the transport not arrive e.g. if a driver is unwell at short notice.

Additional information:

• A bin will be made available to dispose of face masks.
• All coaches are to load in the morning and afternoon back to front and unload front to back once at school.

Qualifications Wales estimated almost three-quarters of grades awarded were A* to C, with more than 25% A* and A grades - up from 18.4% last year.

It follows the uproar after last week's A-levels with 42% of moderated grades lower than teacher assessments.

A pupil at Mary Immaculate school in Cardiff said the fallout from A-levels had caused stress for GCSE students.

"But seeing my results today, I'm really happy and proud of myself," said Louis. "The results I got are the ones I wanted."

The exams regulator Qualifications Wales said its "best estimate" was that 74.5% of GCSE grades were awarded at A*-C, compared to 62.8% in 2019.

For GCSE, A-level, AS-levels and the Welsh Baccalaureate, pupils now receive the highest grade, whether that was their teacher's prediction or the standardised grades.

Source BBC Wales - Read and watch the news report

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53834013

Prestatyn High School is absolutely delighted for all of our pupils who received their GCSE grades today.

The pupils truly deserve their fantastic grades and we are so proud of each and every one of them. This has been a very challenging year, but our Year 11s have risen to meet these challenges head on and we are so happy we got to celebrate their successes today.

I am sure they will all go onto even greater success, with many of them now embarking upon A-levels with us in our 6^th Form.

To the class of 2020, we are so proud of you.

Kieron Small - Is returning to Prestatyn Sixth in September to study Drama, Dance and History.

A STUDENT who initially had her dreams of studying medicine dashed after downgraded results has spoken out about what has been a rollercoaster week.

Rebekah Fell-Crook, a Prestatyn High School student, has always been a straight A student. However, she was left devastated on A level results day last week when she attained a B in Biology, B in Chemistry, a C in Maths and a C in Physics.

She had been predicted a B in Maths, A in Chemistry, A in Physics and A in Biology.

Rebekah's results were sent to Cardiff University by the WJEC and her place on a medicine course was automatically declined.

Speaking about collecting her results and what the week has been like since she picked up that all important envelope, Rebekah said: "I had already seen on UCAS that I had not got the grades I needed to be accepted onto the medicine course. I had instead been offered a place to study Chemistry in Cardiff which was not a course that I had applied to. I found this really stressful as I had to sit at home for two hours before I could go to school in my time slot to pick up my results.

"I would like to thank everyone in Prestatyn and the surrounding community who has helped bring justice for A level students across the country by signing and sharing petitions and letting the exam boards know that what they did was unacceptable and unfair.

 

"I would also like to thank the amazing teachers and staff at Prestatyn High School who have pushed me to be the best student that I can be throughout my time in high school and sixth form. I cannot describe how grateful I am for all that they have done for me - I would not be the person that I am today without their encouragement.’

 

Read the full article here - https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/18658591.prestatyn-student-initially-hopes-dashed-speaks-despair-delight-levels-grades-u-turn/?ref=twtrec