This update only impacts students of Malvern, Wenlock, 9.1 and Transport Route 8
Dear Parents/Carers
School Closure for Selected Groups – Malvern, Wenlock, 9.1 and Transport Route 8
We have received notification of further positive cases of COVID within the School community which relates to a number of different groups within school. Since my last correspondence on 30 June 2021 we have now received confirmation of a positive case from a PCR test result.
This now means that the following groups will need to isolate up to and including Saturday 10 July 2021. Pupils will then be able to come out of isolation on Sunday 11 July 2021 and will be able to return to school as long as they are well on Monday 12 July 2021. This advice has been given to us by Public Health England, Public Health Sandwell and the Local Authority and the decision has been made to keep everyone safe and further limit the spread of COVID throughout the school community.
Since returning to school there have been instances whereby pupils have been sent back into school when they are still unwell and symptomatic. This has had a profound impact and means that groups and staff need isolate again. Even if your child’s isolation periods end and they are still symptomatic they must continue to isolate as it is highly likely they could still be contagious. I cannot emphasise this enough:
Please do not send your child into school if they are unwell, however minor their illness may seem. If any pupil arrives at school unwell, we will have to contact you to collect them. If pupils come into school ill it is very likely that it will impact on other pupils, teachers and class groups and lead to further periods of self-isolation and partial school closure.
We appreciate how difficult it can be for parents and carers to arrange childcare to cover periods of self-isolation, but the safety of the whole school community has to be our priority.
The most recent decision to isolate impacts on the following groups:
– Malvern
– Wenlock
– 9.1
– Transport Route 8
There are some exceptions to the above, if this applies to you the school will already have been in contact.
If your child develops any of the following symptoms, however minor, please arrange a PCR test through https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119:
• new continuous cough and/or
• high temperature and/or
• a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
• headaches
• aches and pains
• feeling very tired for no good reason
• sore throat
• runny nose
• sneezing
• tummy ache/upset tummy in children.
If your child tests positive, please ring the school on 0121 561 6884 and let us know or if out hours/weekend please email headteacher@westminster.sandwell.sch.uk as soon as possible.
Live lessons for your child will continue throughout this period through Microsoft Teams and Evidence for Learning (EfL). If you have any queries regarding EfL, please contact us services@westminster.sandwell.sch.uk.
If you have any further concerns or questions, please contact the Senior Leadership Team on headteacher@westminster.sandwell.sch.uk.
Thank you for your continued help and support.
Yours faithfully
Mr O M Flowers
Head Teacher
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