Coronavirus information

Important Announcement 11.06.21

Dear Blackpool Sixth students and parents/carers,

Important message – remote learning from Monday 14th June for one week.

Since we returned from the half term break, there have been a  small number of Covid-19 cases that have been reported among the college community. These were swiftly and safely dealt with and any close contacts have been required to self-isolate in line with Public Health guidelines.

As a precautionary measure, the senior leadership team at college has taken the decision to temporarily move to remote learning next week (Monday 14th June to Friday 18th June).  We intend to resume face-to-face learning from Monday 21st June. This, along with all the other measures in place, will help us to cut any possible chains of transmission and allow time for deep cleaning to be carried out. 

Please be reassured that the decision to temporarily move to remote learning has not been taken lightly but the health and wellbeing of all members of our college community must remain our absolute priority.  Learning will be delivered using a combination of live lessons (Google Meet) and other remote learning activities such as videos and tasks set using Google Classroom. Students should aim to follow their normal timetable throughout the week.

Any students who have a problem accessing remote learning from home, including connectivity issues should contact their pastoral mentor and we will endeavour to make appropriate arrangements so they can continue with their learning. 

Please remember that students continue to have access to a wide range of support through college. If you have any concerns then please contact your pastoral mentor who will be able to offer support. 

The current situation is a clear reminder to everybody that we must all continue to follow COVID-safe control measures at all times, both in and outside of college and a reminder to self-test using the lateral flow devices provided through college. All students should continue with the twice per week lateral flow testing whilst learning remotely.  Any student testing positive should report this to their pastoral mentor via email. I would also advise anyone eligible for a vaccine to take up that opportunity. 

Of course, we all hoped that we would be able to continue with face-to-face learning until the end of term but please be assured that we are very well prepared for this scenario and are confident that we will continue to deliver high quality remote learning for all of our students.

If you have a scheduled meeting with a member of staff at college next week, they will be in touch to arrange for this to be online or on the phone.

We will keep you informed of any developments via email and keep the website updated https://www.blackpoolsixth.ac.uk/coronavirus/. Thank you for your support and understanding of this situation. We look forward to welcoming all our students back to college on Monday 21st June. 

Yours sincerely

Stuart Ormson

Assistant Principal – Student Support

Update 15.04.21

Update 12.03.21

Today the college published two videos to welcome students back to onsite learning at the college.  The first is a short welcome from Principal, Jill Gray. The second with Assistant Principal for Student Support, Stuart Ormson, gives more details about the arrangements for the return and for continuing to keep everyone safe and supported in the coming months.

Update: 26.02.21

Vocational assessment announcement

Ofqual has published their “Alternative arrangements for the award of VTQs and other general qualifications in 2021 – Approach to awarding qualifications where exams do not take place”. We are currently reviewing this information in detail and we will keep you informed when we have further information about what this means for our students at Blackpool Sixth.

Updates: 25.02.21

GCSE and A Level assessment announcement

Today (25th February 2021), Ofqual has published their “Decisions on how GCSE, AS and A level grades will be determined in summer 2021”. We are currently reviewing this information in detail and we will keep you informed when we have further information about what this means for our students at Blackpool Sixth.

Important information about the return to on-site learning

(This letter has been sent to all students and their parents/carers)

I hope you and your family are safe and well.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, we are keen to get students back into the classroom as soon as possible, and as safely as possible. We welcome the chance to begin a structured return to face-to face learning. Throughout the pandemic, we have been doing everything possible to deliver high-quality learning whilst minimising the risks due to coronavirus, we will continue to do this. 

One of the many safety measures that will be in place is the asymptomatic testing of students. In line with the latest government guidance students will be offered three tests at college, 3 to 5 days apart, starting from Monday 8th March. The first two tests will be done before students return to face-to-face lessons. This means that students will continue to learn from home until Monday 15th March so we can safely manage the number of students passing through the test site. The third test will take place in college in the week commencing 15th March.  We have planned the testing process this way to maximise safety and minimise disruption to learning. We are able to deliver the final test whilst students are learning face-to-face although there may be some minor disruption to learning whilst this takes place.  

There will be a move towards ongoing home testing for students after they have had the three tests in college. After the third test, students will be supplied with test kits to self swab and test themselves twice a week at home.  We will provide more details of the distribution of the home test kits and how the home testing will work as soon as possible. Please note: we are only able to provide home test kits to students who have had three supervised tests in college.

Monday 8th to Friday 12th March – asymptomatic testing in college

This week will be dedicated to asymptomatic COVID-19 testing of students. All students will soon be sent an email confirming the date/times of their first two tests that they will be invited into college to take a rapid flow COVID-19 test. 

The testing is voluntary but we strongly encourage all students to take part in the testing as it will help to keep the college and the wider community safe by identifying those people who are carrying the virus unknowingly. Rapid testing is a vital part of the government’s plan to suppress the virus in schools and colleges – this works best when as many people as possible ‘opt in’ to protect themselves and others.

Important: The testing programme at college is for students with no symptoms. Students must not come into college if they have any of the symptoms of COVID-19 or if they are required to self-isolate for any other reason.

Further information about Covid-19 testing at Blackpool Sixth can be found here.

Monday 8th to Friday 12th March – students learning from home

All students will be learning from home during this week to enable mass testing to take place. Learning will be delivered using a combination of videos and tasks set using Google Classroom.  We will not be able to follow the normal timetable during this week, because, as you no doubt appreciate, students will need to travel into college to take their tests and teachers will be involved in the testing process. Teachers will liaise with their individual classes via their college email to plan the learning. 

Any students who have a problem accessing remote learning from home, including connectivity issues should contact their pastoral mentor. 

From Monday 15th March – face-to-face lessons blended with remote learning will begin

The timetable will resume from Monday 15th March with students attending college for face-to-face lessons.  Students will follow their normal timetable up to lunch time. Face-to-face lessons will finish at lunch time; at this point, students will leave the site. The final session of the day will be a remote lesson with work set by the teacher. This remote learning will be work that can be completed independently and will include a mix of teaching and learning methods. However, it will not include ‘live’ teaching because we are aware that students will be making their way home. 

A range of ‘grab and go’ food and drink options will be available for students to purchase at break times and at the lunch-time finish so that students can purchase something to eat and drink prior to leaving the site to avoid mixing bubbles.

We are using this blended approach to learning because we have recognised the huge strides that our teachers and students have made in adapting to remote learning. Also, considering the increased transmissibility of the new variant, this measure will further minimise any mixing of ‘bubbles’ in college. 

This blended timetable will be in place until Easter. We will review the situation before the Easter break and keep you updated about any developments via email and the college website.

Face coverings – must be worn in all indoor areas of college (including classrooms)

In addition to the system of controls already in place, we expect all students and staff to follow the latest government guidance and wear face coverings in classrooms and other teaching spaces. The three exceptions to the wearing of face coverings in indoor areas are:

1. Where wearing a face covering would impact on the ability to take part in exercise or strenuous activity, for example in sport or dance lessons.
2. For those who are exempt from wearing face coverings for medical reasons.
3. Those who rely on visual signals for communication.

The new government guidance says that face visors or face shields should no longer be used as an alternative to face coverings as they have been shown not to be as effective in preventing aerosol transmission.

Final assessments for students completing courses in the summer 

We are still unsure what the final assessment arrangements will be for students completing/finishing their courses in the summer. The government has completed the consultation and we hope to know the final outcome very soon. We will let you know what is happening as soon as the consultation outcome is published. 

Once the outcome of the consultation has been published, we will consider what, if any, further assessment data can be shared with students, parents and carers, for example academic monitoring reports (AMRs).

And finally

It is really good news that cases of COVID-19 are falling and the government now feels that it is safe for students to return to on-site learning. However, recognising that cases are still relatively high, it is essential that we all carry on with the good habits of ‘‘hands, face, space” and self-isolating at the first sign of symptoms. We know that this has been successful in reducing the risk of transmission at college.

If you have any questions or are concerned about your daughter/son/ward’s learning or wellbeing then please contact their Pastoral Mentor, via email, who will be happy to help. 

The ‘Thrive’ at Blackpool Sixth wellbeing platform (https://www.blackpoolsixth.ac.uk/thrive/) has resources, tools and information about how to support mental health and wellbeing.

I would like to thank you for your continued support and understanding. Take care and stay safe.

Yours sincerely

Stuart Ormson

Assistant Principal – Student Support & Designated Safeguarding Lead

Update: 23.02.21

Following the Government’s announcement yesterday of a re-opening of schools and colleges from 8th March, the college’s Principal and Senior Leadership Team are working through the guidance and planning the details of the return.  We will provide information on this page as soon as it is available.

Update: 05.01.21

Dear Blackpool Sixth students and parents/carers,

You will no doubt have heard the Prime Minister’s announcement that the country is going into national lockdown, similar to the lockdown in March. This will last for at least seven weeks, with measures to be reviewed in mid-February.

What does this mean for students?
Students will learn remotely from home until at least February half term. Learning will be delivered using a combination of live lessons (Google Meet) and other remote learning such as videos and tasks set using Google Classroom. Students should aim to follow their normal timetable but, as you no doubt appreciate, some flexibility may be required to respond to individual circumstances. For instance many of our staff are parents themselves of young children and will have home education commitments. Teachers will liaise with their individual classes via their college email to plan the delivery of their sessions. Thank you for your understanding.

Any students who have a problem accessing remote learning from home, including connectivity issues should contact their pastoral mentor.

Currently government guidance states that external exams/assessments scheduled to take place in January are going ahead in college, as planned but, we understand that there is a possibility that this could change before tomorrow (Wednesday 6th January). We will communicate any changes as soon as possible.

Students due to take an exam this month should follow the instructions sent prior to the Christmas break.

Please note: students must not attend college for exams if they have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or are required to self-isolate due to being a close contact. Please email exams@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk with full details if you are unable to take an exam/assessment.

Summer exams/assessments will not happen as planned.
The government has announced that they will work with the exams regulators (Ofqual) to put in place alternative arrangements. We are, as yet, unclear on what this means for our students so we will provide further information once we have more detail. In the meantime, it is important that students continue with their online learning as teacher assessments may be one of the methods used to award qualifications.

What do I do if I have any concerns?
Please contact your teachers via email if you have any concerns about your learning. If you have any other concerns then please contact your pastoral mentor in the first instance via email and they will be happy to help.

There is further information on the college website about what to do if you are worried about your safety/wellbeing or the safety of others outside of the usual college opening hours. See here  for more details. There are useful contact numbers for external agencies and advice about a range of issues such as mental health and how to stay safe online.

And finally…
Of course, we all hoped this wouldn’t happen again, but will get through this together. It is understandable that you will be feeling anxious but please be assured that we are very well prepared for this scenario and are confident that we will continue to deliver high quality remote learning for all of our students.

We will keep students informed of any development via their college email address but please check this page on the college website regularly because this is where we will post any significant new information relevant to all students.

We look forward to welcoming all our students and staff back to college once this situation has passed. In the meantime, look after yourselves and follow the government advice  to ‘stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives’.

Yours faithfully

Stuart Ormson
Assistant Principal – Student Support

Remote Learning

Delivery arrangements

Whether students are in college or learning remotely from home, the timetable will remain the same; this means the same groups, the same teachers and the same times.  The rooms will be the same when students are in college for face-to-face lessons.

Remote learning sessions will be delivered using a combination of live lessons (Google Meet) and other remote learning such as videos and tasks set using Google Classroom. The remote lessons will follow the normal timetable. Students should be ready to begin online learning at the time their lesson usually starts. Teachers will send a Google Classroom message explaining exactly what students should be doing.  Whatever the method, we will endeavour, as far as is possible to mirror the effective practice that takes place in face-to-face education.  For example, providing frequent, clear explanations of new content, delivery by a teacher or through high-quality curriculum resources, providing opportunities for interactivity and intentional dialogue, including questioning, eliciting and reflective discussion and enabling students to receive timely and frequent feedback on how to progress.

During remote learning, students will continue to be assessed regularly on their work and given feedback on their progress that helps them improve.  Teachers will share assessment information with their classes.  It is important to note that assessment of practical subjects is more challenging remotely; we will provide the students with the best experience possible in a remote learning situation.  This varies from subject to subject, so for information on specific courses, please contact the individual teacher.  NB: This refers to ongoing assessment as part of day-to-day learning and NOT to any “teacher assessment” that may replace examinations at the end of a student’s course.

College staff will:

• provide students with clarity on the arrangements for how remote education will be delivered, timetabling, the use of a virtual learning environment (that allows interaction, assessment and feedback)
• teach planned and well sequenced remote education to give students the best chance to build their knowledge and skills
• confirm with students the different ways in which they will receive assessment and feedback and provide students with individual assessment and feedback to support progress
• maintain regular communication with vulnerable young people to ensure that they are safe and are accessing remote education
• take account of home learning environments and the support that students may need to engage and learn remotely and safely
• be sensitive to the wellbeing of students when they are learning remotely
• have systems in place to check, at least weekly, for persistent non-attendance or lack of engagement with remote education and to quickly agree ways in which attendance and participation can be improved 
• ensure both staff and students are trained and confident in their use of digital platforms 
• set clear expectations of students concerning their participation in remote education, so they know when and how they are expected to engage and demonstrate their learning 

Expectations of students

Students will:

• maintain regular contact with their teachers and pastoral mentor using the college systems such as email and Google Classroom
• check their email and Google Classroom regularly (as a minimum twice per week) – students are responsible for checking their emails and Google Classroom as this is where key messages will be shared
• “arrive” (virtually) on time to lessons
• complete the work set to a high standard
• demonstrate respectful conduct in all online learning

Please also see the following links to some important documents:

● Student video call expectations
● Positive behaviour policy (and addendum)
● Safeguarding policy (and addendum)
● Acceptable use of computers policy

Arrangements for students studying courses that require specialist equipment or facilities

In the vast majority of cases, students studying courses that require specialist equipment or facilities have the relevant software on their device.  Students studying these subjects also have access to specialist equipment or facilities on site wherever possible, however, when remote education is the only option, the subject departments provide the very best next alternative.  For information on specific courses, please contact the individual teacher.

Support for students without devices, connectivity or a suitable environment for learning

Blackpool Sixth operates a “Bring Your Own Device” scheme so all students have a device that they can use in the physical or virtual classroom. Any student who is struggling to pay for the costs of a device can apply for support, or access a loan device, through the college bursary scheme or the access fund. Please see the financial support section of the college website for more information about the bursary and the online application process 

There will be provision in college for students who have a problem accessing remote learning from home, including connectivity issues. Students should speak with their pastoral mentor if they are in this position.

Support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

We recognise that some students, for example some students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), may not be able to access remote education without support and we work with students and their parents/carers to support those students in the following ways:

• An assigned key support worker to support students (in addition to their pastoral mentor).
• Attendance and engagement will be monitored daily using EMRIS and absences followed up in a timely manner. 
• At least weekly, the key support workers make contact with their students to check on progress and provide support and guidance. This may be via email, phone or Gmeet.
• Key support workers will liaise with parents/carers, offering advice as required.
• Students with EHCPs will be able to access face-to-face support in college. They will be supported by  a key support worker, as required, whilst they are in college.
• Some students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or with more complex needs will have additional ‘in-class’ and support within their ‘live’ video lessons, this allows the student to receive additional help during the ‘live’ lesson.
• Out-of-class additional support sessions will be provided to students, as required, in the form of GMeets and/or telephone calls, this supports students to consolidate their learning and/or further develop their skills.
• Some students e.g. those with EHCPs and more complex needs, will receive face-to-face support in college, depending on their need.
• Staff at college will work with the local authority to ensure that annual reviews of students with EHCPs continue to be provided via GMeet.
• Prospective students (applicants) who disclosed a learning need will be allocated a key support worker. The key support worker will make contact with the student via phone or email to discuss their individual needs and the support that can be provided. Transition meetings will be held via GMeet for applicants with more complex needs to agree a transition plan.

Gail Yeadon, Deputy Principal 

(The Deputy Principal is the senior leader with overarching responsibility for the quality and delivery of remote education)

Update 27.05.21

Ofqual has released a “student guide to awarding summer 2021”, which can be found here. The booklet covers a range of topics, for example, timelines, how teacher-assessed grades are determined, quality assurance and appeals. Whilst we don’t anticipate many appeals due to the transparent and rigorous approach we have taken, we will share with you our appeals process in the near future.  There is a web-friendly version the guide which you can access here.

Update 15.04.21

The government has announced that the summer exams will not go ahead as planned and will be replaced with teacher-assessed grades (TAGs) instead.  Now that we have received guidance from the Department for Education, Ofqual, the Joint Council for Qualifications and from some of the exam boards we can clarify what this means for our students.  Upper sixth students, Route3 students and any student who is sitting their GCSE English or GCSE Maths with us will receive a letter explaining this in more detail, so please ensure you read this carefully.

The FAQs: summer results 2021 document explains what this means for our students and should give answers to any questions you may have about how the grades are going to be determined.

The graphics below explain also cover the key details for different types of qualification:

We recognise this is an anxious time for students and we will do everything we can to support the students at college both now and on/after results days. We have counselling, academic support, pastoral support, careers guidance and much more. A student’s pastoral mentor can help signpost them to the best source of support. It may also be useful to read this blog by Professor Kevin Woods and psychologists at Manchester University.

Update: 26.02.21 

Vocational assessment announcement

Ofqual has published their “Alternative arrangements for the award of VTQs and other general qualifications in 2021 – Approach to awarding qualifications where exams do not take place”. We are currently reviewing this information in detail and we will keep you informed when we have further information about what this means for our students at Blackpool Sixth.

Updates: 25.02.21

GCSE and A Level assessment announcement

Today (25th February 2021), Ofqual has published their “Decisions on how GCSE, AS and A level grades will be determined in summer 2021”. We are currently reviewing this information in detail and we will keep you informed when we have further information about what this means for our students at Blackpool Sixth.

Further update on vocational exams 07.01.21

**UPDATE FROM awarding bodies, OCR AND LIBF

OCR – Cambridge Nationals (CTEC engineering and applied science):

Our priority is to ensure students are not disadvantaged. If students do not take our exams this January, there are options:

There may be an opportunity to take their assessment at a future date. If this is not possible due to arrangements still to be announced for this summer, we’ll work with the DfE and Ofqual to make sure they are treated fairly.

LIBF – Level 3 Finance Studies

Learners who do not sit exams in January will not be disadvantaged and may be able to resit the paper in July. Should this not be possible, we will put in place alternative arrangements for your learners to ensure that they are not disadvantaged.

Update concerning exams: 06.01.21

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – External/exams assessments

In the light of the Secretary of State’s announcement yesterday evening whereby colleges have been given the authority to make the decision whether or not to run external exams/assessments due to take place in January and February, Blackpool Sixth has decided to cancel all exams from 7 January 2021. 

We have made this decision considering the increasing rates of positive cases locally, the safety and wellbeing of both the college and our wider community alongside the updated statement from the government last night.  Furthermore, we have had reassurance from the main awarding body, Pearson, this morning, which states:

• “We will certificate any learner who is unable to take their exams and has enough evidence to receive a certificate that they need for progression.

• Learners unable to take their assessment this January may be able to take their assessment at a later date. If that is not possible, we will put in place arrangements to ensure no learner is disadvantaged.”

Whilst we are not yet clear what the alternative assessment methods and arrangements are we are confident that this is the right decision for the college and we will keep you informed about this as more information is shared nationally.

For your information, many other local colleges have taken the same decision.

If you have a concern about the wellbeing and safety of any Blackpool Sixth student, please see here for details of what to do.

Testing update (18.03.21)

I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff and students who have been involved in the rapid COVID testing programme that has taken place in college over the last two weeks. A total of 1831 students have been tested so far out of 2155 students on roll since 8th March, with two positive results and those individuals are now self-isolating. 

Thanks so much for the genuine care and commitment staff have shown in the planning and implementing of this huge and complex task. Thanks also to all the students who took part, they showed an incredibly mature approach to the mass testing programme.

I would like to also take this opportunity to thank everyone for their personal contribution to keeping Blackpool Sixth safe by following all the measures we have in place to prevent the spread of the virus, this includes continuing with the home testing, wearing face coverings, sanitising/washing hands and keeping your distance from others, where possible.

Stuart Ormson, Assistant Principal, Student Support

In College Testing

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here for responses to a large number of questions we are have been asked about the college’s provision and support during the Coronavirus pandemic. These questions are regularly updated with the latest information. Please also see the other tabs on this page for information on specific topics such as remote learning and exams/assessment.