COVID-19 update > COVID-19 Update > College Info | King Edward VI College, Stourbridge

COVID-19 update

COVID-19 update

COVID-19 update

Last update: 1 December 2021

Following the DfE notification on 28 November, the government has issued urgent guidance regarding face coverings that will apply with immediate effect.

Face coverings must now be worn in all areas around college except classrooms during lessons. In addition, face coverings must be worn on college transport and public transport at all times.

Students must make sure that they bring their face covering to college.

Home testing for COVID-19

All staff and students should take one self-test at home either the evening or morning before they return in January. They should then continue to test in line with government guidelines.
If you require additional test kits, you can obtain these from the Help Desk in the Student Support Centre.

Vaccination

All eligible staff and students are encouraged to take up the offer of the vaccine, including booster.

Vaccines are our best defence against COVID-19. They help protect young people and adults, and benefit those around them. Vaccination makes people less likely to catch the virus and less likely to pass it on.

To book a vaccination, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

COVID safety protocol

We will continue to do all we can to reduce the risk of the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Our priority is to continue to deliver face-to-face, high-quality education to our students in a safe environment. We continue to ensure that we are COVID-19 secure.

Our local situation in relation to the virus can change at a moment’s notice. Our plans and control measures are subject to change to reflect the current and ever-changing situation of the pandemic. We will notify staff, students and parents of any significant changes by email and we will update this section of the website regularly.

You can help to make our campus as safe as possible by following our COVID-19 safety protocols, detailed below.

COVID-19 safety protocols and protective control measures:

Do not attend college if you are unwell or if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.
If you have not tested positive for COVID in the last 90 days, staff and students are strongly advised to use home lateral flow device test kits twice a week. Any positive result must be backed up by a confirmatory PCR test. Whilst awaiting this result, please self-isolate in accordance with government guidance.
If you have tested positive for COVID in the least 90 days, do not conduct home testing, unless you develop COVID-like symptoms. If you do develop symptoms, then obtain a PCR test.
Sanitise your hands when you arrive on campus. Practice good hand hygiene and wash your hands regularly.
Staff and students should ensure good respiratory hygiene by using the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach.
Face coverings are required for all staff and students when circulating around campus and especially in areas where social distancing is not possible, except for classrooms. Please carry a face covering with you.
The use of face coverings on college transport and public transport is required. In these instances, we expect compliance, so students should always carry a face covering with them.
Social distancing is not currently required anywhere on campus, but please be considerate of others.
For social gatherings and eating, use the outdoor seating areas whenever possible.
In the classroom, seating plans will be required so that we can assist NHS track and trace if required to do so.
Wipe down any shared equipment/materials/tools; appropriate supplies will be in classrooms for this purpose.
Wherever possible, maintain and increase the supply of fresh air, for example, by opening windows and doors.
Please be considerate of our local community when you are in town.

We all have a responsibility to understand the arrangements and work together to ensure they are effectively implemented.

Risk assessment - November 2021

Covid-19 risk assessment - November 2021

16-18 academies (COVID-19) operational guidance

Click here for the COVID-19 operational guidance for 16-18 academies.

LFD home testing - guidance for students

When?

If you have NOT tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days ... you should perform a test twice a week from September onwards. The best times would be Sunday evening and Wednesday evening.
If you HAVE tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days ... you should not test at home. If you develop COVID-like symptoms, then get a PCR test.

How?

The instructions for how to conduct the test are included with your test kits. Please follow the steps carefully otherwise the test may be void.

How do I report my result?

You must report a positive result to the NHS – this is very important.

To report your result to the NHS go to https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.

What if my test is positive?

Report your positive result to the NHS
NHS track and trace will contact you to explain next steps
Follow the government guidelines told to you by NHS track and trace
Report your absence to the college by emailing attendance@kedst.ac.uk, providing the date the NHS has confirmed that you can return to college
If you are well enough to attend a virtual lesson, contact your teacher who will connect you virtually to the lesson

Dealing with confirmed cases of COVID-19

The health and welfare of the college community is of paramount importance to us. In dealing with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 amongst our student and staff population, we will:

follow government guidance, working closely with NHS track and trace as appropriate
work closely with Dudley MBC Public Health team and implement their standard operating procedures
support students who must self-isolate to access their education if they are well enough to do so
support staff to work from home if they must self-isolate only if they are well enough to do so

Please find below information detailing how we deal with positive cases of COVID-19:

Students who test positive for COVID-19 must inform the NHS test and trace as soon as possible
Students must report their absence to college via email at attendance@kedst.ac.uk
They should then follow the guidance provided by NHS Track and Trace
The college will liaise with NHS Track and Trace as required
Teachers will do their best to make live lessons available to students who must self-isolate via either Microsoft Teams or Google Classrooms

What to do if you have been informed by the NHS that you must self-isolate:

Students: email attendance@kedst.ac.uk
Provide the date the NHS has confirmed that you can return to college

Here is additional information from Public Health England:

Symptoms of COVID-19:

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

new continuous cough and/or
high temperature and/or
a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

What to do if you develop symptoms of COVID-19:

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you should not attend college, you should arrange a PCR test and self isolate until your get the result. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
Additional COVID-related information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

How to stop COVID-19 spreading:

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19:

maximise use of natural ventilation
where possible visitors or events should be held outside
wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
wash your hands as soon as you get home
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
where there is lack of natural ventilation it is advised that you use face coverings

General advice: staying alert and safe (social distancing).

Office for students: Student guide to coronavirus

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline: this helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling: 0800 046 8687