Dear parents and students
I hope everyone has managed to keep themselves safe and to enjoy the good weather during the holidays. As I write this update, I am looking forward to the summer term, and to the continuing easing of restrictions and opening up of normal life. The summer term will run from Tuesday 20th April until Friday 25th June.
I hope that, like me, everyone is looking forward to returning to a normal pattern of school attendance. It has been almost 4 months since students have attended a full week at school and I think we all need a reminder of some of the procedures and routines we have in place to keep everyone safe.
Covid-19 Infection control
It is encouraging that the number of infections in the community is decreasing. However, as society begins to open up, it is vital that we continue to manage the risk of infection within school.
Pattern of attendance
We will return to our two-week timetable rota and the staggered start and finish times that we operated before lockdown. These were put in place to reduce movement, and to keep the number of contacts and mixing of bubbles to a minimum. The table below shows the attendance for each year group.
S1 Monday to Thursday
| Period | Time | Information |
| DMT | 8:30am – 8:40am | Arrive at 8:25am |
| 1+2 | 8:40am – 10:35am | |
| Break | 10:35am – 10:50am | No Canteen Available |
| 3+4 | 10:50am – 12:50pm | |
| Lunch | 12:50pm – 1:35pm | |
| 5+6 | 1:35pm – 3:15pm | To accommodate staggered release |
S1 Friday
| Period | Time | Information |
| DMT | 8:30am – 8:40am | Arrive at 8:25am |
| 1+2 | 8:40am – 10:25am | |
| Break | 10:25am – 10:40am | No Canteen Available |
| 3+4 | 10:40am – 12:25pm |
S2 and S3 Monday to Thursday
| Period | Time | Information |
| DMT | 8:30 – 8:40am | Arrive at 8:25am |
| 1+2 | 8:40am – 10:50am | |
| Break | 10.00am – 10.15am | No canteen available – return to period 1/2 class |
| 3+4 | 10:50am – 1:30pm | |
| Lunch | 12.00 noon – 12:45pm | Return to period 3/4 class at 12.45) |
| 5+6 | 1:30pm – 3:15pm | Short break to be taken in class (between 2:15pm – 2:30pm suggested) |
S2 and S3 Friday
| Period | Time | Information |
| DMT | 8:30am – 8:40am | Arrive at 8:25am |
| 1+2 | 8:40am – 10:40am | |
| Break | 10.00am – 10:15am | No canteen available – return to period 1/2 class |
| 3+4 | 10:40am – 12:25pm |
S4, 5 and 6 Monday to Thursday
| Period | Time | Information |
| 1+2 | 8:45am – 10:35am | |
| Break | 10:35am – 10:50am | No Canteen Available |
| 3+4 | 10:50am – 12:50pm | |
| Lunch | 12:50pm – 1:35pm | |
| 5+6 | 1:35pm – 3:25pm |
S4, 5 and 6 Friday
| Period | Time | Information |
| 1+2 | 8:45am – 10:25am | |
| Break | 10:25am – 10:40am | No Canteen Available |
| 3+4 | 10:40am – 12:35pm |
Students are asked to arrive on time rather than early or late – this helps to avoid contact between students from different year groups. S6 should enter the building through the office entrance.
Face Coverings
All staff and students are required to continue to wear face coverings while in the school building. This measure is particularly important since the requirement for a two-meter distance in the classroom has been removed (to allow the full return of students).
Asymptomatic Testing
Asymptomatic testing is offered to all staff and students and we would encourage students to participate in this voluntary programme. For more information regarding Asymptomatic Testing, please see our sidebar link or follow the link below:
https://forresterhighschool.org.uk/asymptomatic-testing
All parents should also now have received a letter explaining the Asymptomatic Testing Programme.
Break and lunchtime
Students should observe physical distancing wherever possible and will continue to go outside for break and lunchtime (after finishing lunch). Our canteen is available at lunchtime only and is, once again, able to serve a variety of hot and cold food.
PE Kit
To help control the risk of infection, we are not yet allowed to use the PE changing rooms. Therefore, on the days when young people have PE they are advised to come to school wearing clothes suitable for PE. Please click the link below for the most up-to-date PE dress code.
https://forresterhighschool.org.uk/departments/physical-education
Some of the other measures which we have put in place to control infection include:
- Physical distance (whenever possible)
- Ventilation
- Hand washing
- Enhanced cleaning
National Qualifications
The SQA updated their guidance on the Alternative Certification Model on 13th April 2021. A link to specific updates for parents and students can be found below:
Update for Parents: 2021 Update from the National Qualifications 2021 Group: Alternative Certification Model Stage 2 – parents and carers (sqa.org.uk)
Update for Students: 2021 Update from the National Qualifications 2021 Group: Alternative Certification Model Stage 2 – learners (sqa.org.uk)
These are in line with our own plans, shared in my March 27th update, linked below.
A reminder that teachers will let students know when they have assessments and we will share an assessment calendar, for larger, more formal pieces of assessment by Friday 23rd April. These assessments will take place between Wednesday 4th May and Friday 4th June.
Staffing
In other news, the school is in the process of recruiting two new Deputy Head Teachers (one Pastoral and one Teaching and Learning Depute) to start with us in August. Adverts for both posts will close on Sunday 25th April and candidates will be invited for interview early in May.
Finally, I look forward to seeing everyone back, safe and well, on Tuesday 20 April which is week 1 of our timetable rota.
Thanks and best wishes
Stephen Rafferty
Head Teacher