24th March 2020
Update on grading arrangements for students and parents /carers
7th April 2020
We have had a few queries about whether we will still be sending out progress review grades as originally planned after the Easter holidays. In line with the government announcement last Friday whereby it states, “It is important schools and colleges do not share provisional grades, nor rank orders, with students or parents and carers before final results have been issued’, the progress review grades will no longer be made available. Please read the full government guidance detailed below if you haven’t already as this reinforces this message and also explains how grades will be allocated for A levels and GCSEs this summer. As yet, there has not been any guidance provided relating to the grading of BTEC or other vocational qualifications. We will, of course, share this information as soon as we receive it.
We hope you are all safe and well and that you have a restful Easter break!
Best wishes,
Jill Gray
Principal
Important information on the grading of A levels and GCSEs in summer 2020
Updated 3rd April 2020
Last month the Secretary of State for Education announced that the 2020 exam series in England would be cancelled to help fight the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). You will find in the links below further information from the government about how GCSE and A level grades will be awarded this summer. There is a guidance document for students, parents, carers and teachers and an open letter to students. Please do take the time to read this information.
Guidance for students, parents, carers and teachers
Online and Home Learning – Important Information
Dear Blackpool Sixth students and parents/carers,
Following the government’s announcement yesterday, Blackpool Sixth will close to all students (except vulnerable students and those whose parents/carers are key workers who need to be in college) at the end of the day on Friday 20th March to support the fight against the coronavirus. We will be moving to on-line and home learning on all of our subjects from Monday 23rd March until further notice.
Students (other than those identified above) should not attend college premises but are required to continue their studies from home after the end of the day tomorrow (Friday 20th March). Students with planned work placement will not be required to attend.
Students who are children of key workers should let us know via this link if they feel they need to be in college to work by Friday 20th March at 1pm. Parents and carers need to check how their son/daughter/ward has responded. We will contact vulnerable students directly. Please note that there will be no face-to-face classes; this is simply so that those students can work on their online studies here at college.
Online learning will take place through Google Classroom. Students can access Google Classroom through https://classroom.google.com and providing they are logged into their Google account they will be directed to their subject “classrooms”. If students find themselves locked out of their Google account they should email passwordreset@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk from an alternative email account and you will receive further instructions.
We will communicate with students and parents/carers via email. It is essential that students check their college emails each day. We have most parents’ emails, however, if you have not yet provided this or any contact details have changed students are able to update/add further information through the student portal.
Log into student portal. On the opening screen click ‘update my details’ (left), this opens ‘basic details’ which includes contact details. Click on the pen to add or update, then click the green button (bottom) to submit changes.
Please also regularly check the college website messages, because this is where we will post any significant new information relevant to all students.
Our staff will, of course, do their best to continue to teach students during the coming weeks, but, understandably, it is unlikely that they will be able to provide the same levels of service as usual.
The government has also announced that exams and assessments will not take place this summer. This announcement will cause many of you concern. We are, as yet, unclear on what this means for our students so we will provide you with further information once the government has provided some clarification. In the meantime, students on all courses (GCSEs, BTECs/CTECs and A levels) must continue with their online learning as teacher assessments may be one of the methods used in order to award qualifications to students.
We realise that the extraordinary circumstances caused by the coronavirus will be making some of you anxious. If you are feeling unwell, either mentally or physically, you should seek medical advice via NHS 111 or your GP.
The health, wellbeing and safety of all of our students and staff continues to be our key concern, so please do follow the government advice provided during the days/weeks ahead. And please find ways of staying in touch with your friends and family, even if you are required to self-isolate.
We look forward to welcoming all our Blackpool Sixth students and staff back to college once this situation has passed. In the meantime, let’s support each other to remain safe and well.
Yours sincerely
Jill Gray
Principal
Last updated 19th March 2020
New guidance since the last update:
- All members of the household to self-isolate for 14 days if anyone has symptoms
- Avoid “non-essential” contact with others, including trips to pubs, clubs, theatres and other similar social venues.
- Avoid unnecessary travel
- Avoid mass gatherings
- Pregnant women, people over 70 and those with certain health conditions may be asked within days to stay at home for 12 weeks. At-risk health conditions
- those who are pregnant
- chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
- chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
- chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
- diabetes
- problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
- being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)
We recognise that this is an anxious time but you can be assured that the college is following all advice and guidance from Public Health England and the Department for Education. The health, safety and wellbeing of all students, staff and visitors is our number one priority and we will continue to take all appropriate steps to help prevent the spread of this virus.
Where can I find the latest information and advice about Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
NHS advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Government advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
Up-to-date information on the college website: https://www.blackpoolsixth.ac.uk/information/policies/adverse-weather-emergencies/coronavirus-information/
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.
Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.
How to avoid catching or spreading the virus?
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- always wash your hands when you get home or arrive at college
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
- Avoid “non-essential” contact with others, including trips to pubs, clubs, theatres and other similar social venues.
- Avoid unnecessary travel
When should I stay at home?
If you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill
If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started.
It is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community. Staying at home while you or anyone in your household has the symptoms helps to protect your friends, colleagues and the wider community. It will also help to control the spread of the virus. The government’s guidance for self-isolation is provided on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
You only need to use the NHS 111 online service if your symptoms become difficult to cope with, get worse or do not go after seven days. In an emergency (life-threatening) situation, dial 999
I have a condition which means Coronavirus may be more harmful – what should I do?
Pregnant women and those with certain health conditions will be asked within days to stay at home for 12 weeks. If you feel this applies to you and you feel you should not be in college then please email your pastoral mentor letting them know of your absence and the reason.
You should continue to take the usual precautions in relation to your condition. However, if you remain concerned, you should contact your GP or call NHS 111 to check if there are any additional precautions you may need to take. These should then be discussed with your Pastoral Mentor.
How can I keep up with college work whilst staying at home?
If you feel well enough to work, then remote learning materials will be available for each of your subjects on Google Classroom (or other learning platforms as advised by your teachers). Please stay in touch with your teachers and pastoral mentor via email. If you do not have the equipment at home to continue your learning online, you should contact your pastoral mentor for advice.
What if another person in my household is self-isolating?
Current advice is that only people with symptoms, however mild, should stay at home. You are advised to stay away from anyone with symptoms as best you can by following the government’s guidance for self-isolation (see link above).
Ending self-isolation
If you have been symptomatic, then you may end your self-isolation after 7 days. The 7-day period starts from the day when you first became ill.
If living with others, then all household members who remain well may end household-isolation after 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day illness began in the first person to become ill.
After 7 days, if the first person to become ill feels better and no longer has a high temperature, they can return to their normal routine. If any other family members become unwell during the 14-day household-isolation period, they should follow the same advice – i.e. after 7 days of their symptoms starting, if they feel better and no longer have a high temperature, they can also return to their normal routine.
Should a household member develop coronavirus symptoms late in the 14-day household-isolation period (eg on day 13 or day 14) the isolation period does not need to be extended, but the person with the new symptoms has to stay at home for 7 days.
Coughing may persist for several weeks in some people, despite the coronavirus infection having cleared. A persistent cough alone does not mean you must continue to self-isolate for more than the guidelines listed above.
What if I have more concerns?
We will continue to update our students and staff based on the latest advice provided by Public Health England and the Department for Education.
The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and students can contact the helpline:
Phone: 0800 046 8687 | Email: Dfe/coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
The helpline is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.