18 December 2020

Dear Parent/Carer,

An Update Regarding the Start of the Spring Term – Year 12

My apologies for this extra end of term communication. However, Gavin Williamson (the
Secretary of State for Education) released information yesterday afternoon regarding
arrangements for mass testing in schools in January and this has implications for how we start
the Spring Term.

Please carefully read the information below, as arrangements are now different from those
previously published. I do appreciate that such late change is less than ideal, and I can assure
you that we are working hard to deal with meeting the challenge of this late information. As ever,
we shall focus on our school and our students and endeavour to do the very best for them.

Start of Spring Term

The Department for Education has asked us to stagger the return of students at the start of next
term. Please do note that this is not an extended holiday but will allow us to meet the government
requirement for testing in schools.

Tuesday 5 January will now be an INSET day for our staff. Students with a scheduled examination
will be required in school as planned. Other students in Year 12 will not be required to attend
school or engage in remote learning, but should utilise the time for additional revision.

From Wednesday 6 to Friday 7 January, the arrangements are as follows:

• Vocational students will be attending face-to-face examination preparation sessions

in school during their normal lesson times and sit their scheduled exams.

• A level students will be undertaking examinations on site as planned. At other times

they will be at home on study leave.

Students will then return to school to resume face-to-face teaching on Monday 11 January at their
normal time.

Free School Meal Vouchers

Students who receive free school meals will also receive vouchers for the holiday period. These
will be emailed directly to a parent/carer and come from Sodexo, the same company that
delivered the vouchers during the lockdown period.

Students eligible for free school meals who will be undertaking remote learning at the start of next
term, will also receive a voucher in the normal way.

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Track and Trace over the Holiday

Please inform us of any positive tests over the holiday period. We will be monitoring
communications over the break. You can email us at school@isleworthsyon.org.

Asymptomatic Testing

Hounslow Public Health has informed us that there is now the capacity for testing both
keyworkers and members of the public for those without symptoms (asymptomatic). This is to try
and prevent the asymptomatic spread of coronavirus. When booking a test, you are advised to
select “My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a
test, even though I do not have symptoms.”

You can book a test via https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. Mobile testing
units can be located via this link.

In January, we will be working hard to set up testing in school as we do believe that this will help
us to ensure that our school and community will be safer for everyone. Further details will follow
in the New Year.

Face Coverings

There will be more situations when students will be required to wear a face covering in school
next term. Snoods do not meet the safety guidance and masks should not have any partisan
messages or logos. Please do ensure that your child has a supply of face masks that meet basic
safety requirements for the start of next term.

Thank you for your patience and understanding and again I wish you a peaceful and safe holiday.

Yours sincerely,

Euan Ferguson
Headteacher