16th March 2020

Dear Parent/Carers,

I am writing to update you on the current situation regarding COVID-19 as it applies to St Patrick’s Catholic College. We continue to follow Public Health England advice closely and receive regular updates from the Department of Education. This includes very specific advice for educational settings based on a variety of scenarios.

Currently at school it is business as usual, however, we are encouraging pupils and staff to follow the personal hygiene advice promoted by the Public Health England. We have placed the relevant poster in prominent positions around the school.

As you will be aware, there has been some discussion by the government, which has been reported in the media, about the potential for widespread school closures. I hope this possibility is remote but it would be unwise for us not to prepare for such an eventuality. Therefore, staff are currently collating work and uploading online resources for all year groups. This will ensure pupils can continue to work from home should this be necessary. Pupils will be receiving information and login details so they can access resources as appropriate.

In addition, we have been carrying out audits to ascertain access to the internet and devices at home. For those who do not have such resources we will ensure paper-based resources are available. We will use our school website and social media accounts to keep pupils and parents updated should there be any change to the guidance we receive so please check this regularly.

As you will appreciate it is difficult to predict what will happen moving forward, but we are taking steps to plan for future eventualities. I know you will be monitoring your own and your child’s health and, whilst trying to avoid an over-reaction, we ask that you follow advice from NHS 111 and Public Health England.

As a school, our main aim during this unprecedented time is to ensure the health and safety of our Pupils and staff and do everything we possibly can in the event of a closure to ensure that pupils and staff are able to work from home.

Yours faithfully

Mr M. Burns