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You ask, we answer
Click here to download the FAQs as a single document
What is the College doing to minimise the risk from Covid-19?
It is important to recognise that we minimise not eliminate risk. We have students in bubbles, which work in zones to reduce the numbers of contacts. Bubbles are designed to allow students to work in situations where social distancing is not possible. The risk of infection is reduced by limiting the number of people that a person is exposed to. Students will work in a group in one room for the majority of their time. We have reduced or eliminated shared resources. Entrances, exits, break and lunch are staggered. Handwash stations, sanitisers, tissues and lidded bins are provided.
How long will the ‘Covid’ timetable go on for?
We do not have a fixed date, though it is likely to remain in place into 2021 at least. This will be determined by the success of the efforts to control the virus at a national and global level.
Is my son/daughter getting a full curriculum?
We have created an interim timetable which allows students to study all their subjects. There have to be some changes in some subjects, especially practical ones.
What should I do if my child shows symptoms of Covid-19
Keep them at home. Organise for them to be tested (at a drive through for speed). Inform the College of the symptoms and then of the result of the test.
What happens if there is a diagnosed case of Covid-19 in the College Community?
We will work with Public Health England and follow their advice and recommendations. The response could be that a group of students is asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Staff have been asked to prepare work on Canvas which can be switched on at short notice should we have to revert to home learning.
If you are contacted by us as your son / daughter is identified as needing to self-isolate you must organise for them to return home immediately. They must not use public transport and should walk, cycle or be collected by you. They cannot go to a relative’s home. They must remain at home for the time directed (which is 14 days from the time of potential exposure). At present the guidance is that they should not seek a test unless they develop symptoms and that other household members do not need to self-isolate unless symptoms develop.
Should your son / daughter or a family member show symptoms then the household must self-isolate for 14 days or until the affected person receives a negative tests result.
In both scenarios it is crucial that families maintain communications with the College, this is best done by MYED.
What happens if there is a general rise in infection rates locally or nationally?
We will follow the expectations from the government. This might include partial or complete closure, with a return to remote working. Students could be asked to attend College on a 2 week rota.
Do students and staff have to wear masks?
At present there is no expectation for anyone to wear a mask in schools except where there is a high rate of infection locally. Ernest Bevin College’s stance at present is that people may wear a mask should they wish to. Should the guidance change then we will of course adapt our position, for example it could be that masks would be worn in communal areas. Any mask must be properly stored when not being worn.
What does College day look like?
Students will arrive and sanitise or wash their hands. They will then walk to assembly or their teaching room for pastoral period. Students in years 7 to 11 will have 5 lessons in that room for 4 days of the week. Break and lunch are staggered and only one group will be in the playground or serving area at a time. On their activity day students will move around the College to Games, DT and Computing.
Why does my son appear to have changed tutor groups?
There has been a long term plan to move from organising tutor groups by ability towards a system of mixed ability groups with setting organised at subject level where appropriate. These mixed groups are planned to have an equal range of ability and need. This is the system which is operated in the majority of schools. Lessons are then taught in ability sets (where several tutor groups are blocked together) or in mixed ability groups. This process of change at Ernest Bevin has been ongoing since summer 2019 and has nothing to do with the pandemic. Students in the purple and green cohorts have started the College with this arrangement, though there have been some minor changes in the purple cohort.
The yellow tie and blue tie classes have been completely reorganised to create mixed ability groupings. The red ties were already in broadly mixed groups since changes were made last September. In year 12 and 13 the tutor groups may reflect the courses taken or are mixed.
During the ‘Covid’ timetable students in years 7 to 9 are taught in their mixed ability tutor groups. Students in years 10 and 11 are in groups which reflect their options and will be mixed ability in the main. In years 12 and 13 the students are taught in the subject classes, which have entry requirements. Once we revert to our planned timetable setting will restart.
What about extracurricular activities?
Initially the College focussed on welcoming students back to their core curriculum. As of October we are able to allow a limited range of activities which include the library after College, table tennis, volleyball, year 8 breakfast club and the Combined Cadet Force. All activities are ‘bubble secure’.
How will I know how my son or daughter is getting on?
Students are being assessed and reports will be distributed via MYED in the usual way. We are unable to plan parents evenings in their traditional format for the foreseeable future. We will organise remote conversations with families after reports are produced. It is vital that families have the opportunity to discuss student progress.
What else can I do to support my son / daughter?
There is a range of online resources available such as My Maths and GCSE pod, which students have accounts with. They should all be encouraged to use Canvas, where homework assignments are set and in many cases submitted. Many courses will have materials within the Canvas course. There are additional resources available on Oak Learning and BBC bitesize.
You Asked We Answered:
What is the College doing to minimise the risk from Covid-19?
It is important to recognise that we minimise not eliminate risk. We have students in bubbles, which work in zones to reduce the numbers of contacts. Bubbles are designed to allow students to work in situations where social distancing is not possible. The risk of infection is reduced by limiting the number of people that a person is exposed to. Students will work in a group in one room for the majority of their time. We have reduced or eliminated shared resources. Entrances, exits, break and lunch are staggered. Handwash stations, sanitisers, tissues and lidded bins are provided.
How long will the ‘Covid’ timetable go on for?
We do not have a fixed date, though it is likely to remain in place into 2021 at least. This will be determined by the success of the efforts to control the virus at a national and global level.
Is my son/daughter getting a full curriculum?
We have created an interim timetable which allows students to study all their subjects. There have to be some changes in some subjects, especially practical ones.
What should I do if my child shows symptoms of Covid-19
Keep them at home. Organise for them to be tested (at a drive through for speed). Inform the College of the symptoms and then of the result of the test.
What happens if there is a diagnosed case of Covid-19 in the College?
We will work with Public Health England and follow their advice and recommendations. The response could be that one group of students is asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Staff have been asked to prepare work on Canvas which can be switched on at short notice should we have to revert to home learning.
What happens if there is a general rise in infection rates locally or nationally?
We will follow the expectations from the government. This might include partial or complete closure, with a return to remote working. Students could be asked to attend College on a 2 week rota.
Do students and staff have to wear masks?
At present there is no expectation for anyone to wear a mask in schools except where there is a high rate of infection locally. Ernest Bevin College’s stance at present is that people may wear a mask should they wish to. Should the guidance change then we will of course adapt our position, for example it could be that masks would be worn in communal areas. Any mask must be properly stored when not being worn.
What will the College day look like?
Students will arrive and sanitise or wash their hands. They will then walk to assembly or their teaching room for pastoral period. Students in years 7 to 11 will have 5 lessons in that room for 4 days of the week. Break and lunch are staggered and only one group will be in the playground or serving area at a time. On their activity day students will move around the College to Games, DT and Computing.
Why does my son appear to have changed tutor groups?
There has been a long term plan to move from organising tutor groups by ability towards a system of mixed ability groups with setting organised at subject level where appropriate. These mixed groups are planned to have an equal range of ability and need. This is the system which is operated in the majority of schools. Lessons are then taught in ability sets (where several tutor groups are blocked together) or in mixed ability groups. This process of change at Ernest Bevin has been ongoing since summer 2019 and has nothing to do with the pandemic. Students in the purple and green cohorts have started the College with this arrangement, though there have been some minor changes in the purple cohort.
The yellow tie and blue tie classes have been completely reorganised to create mixed ability groupings. The red ties were already in broadly mixed groups since changes were made last September. In year 12 and 13 the tutor groups may reflect the courses taken or are mixed.
During the ‘Covid’ timetable students in years 7 to 9 are taught in their mixed ability tutor groups. Students in years 10 and 11 are in groups which reflect their options and will be mixed ability in the main. In years 12 and 13 the students are taught in the subject classes, which have entry requirements. Once we revert to our planned timetable setting will restart.
Bulletin for parents Easter 2020
We hope that you are able to have a relaxing holiday despite the time of crisis.
We have sent some ideas of activities that students can engage in during the Easter break.
Communications
MYEd remains the main means of contact between families and the college. This is more important than ever as the college has only a skeleton staffing – so the phones are not generally being answered. Heads of year are directly messaging families and are able to respond directly to messages sent in. Parents can also contact school via collegeclosure@ernestbevin.london which is monitored daily. Students can message teachers about their work through Canvas.
Letters and messages are archived on the college website.
There is a live helpdesk function on the home page of the website, this is dedicated to supporting ICT issues.
Skeleton timetable
We have kept the college available to vulnerable students and children of key workers during the closure. This provision runs through the Easter break. If you think your child is eligible for this please contact collegeclosure@ernbestbevin.london.
Free School Meals
We continue to provide free meals for those students who qualify. The offer was initially by collection from the college. Vouchers are now being sent directly to families using WONDE. Free meals provision is being maintained through the holiday. A national system called EDENRED will take over the distribution of vouchers from Monday 20 April. If your situation has changed and you think your child may now be eligible for free meals please get in touch via collegeclosure@ernestbevin.london.
Canvas use
We are lucky to have the use of Canvas to maintain education for the students. It cannot replace actual teaching, but it has allowed teachers to set and receive work, maintain a dialogue with students and to keep a level of engagement in learning which would have been very difficult even 10 years ago. The college is on a steep learning curve.
There are excellent examples of students making great use of Canvas. In year 11 we have many students submitting quantities of work demonstrating the progress they are making. Investing their time in research, going beyond the usual scope of their subjects and adapting very well to the difficult circumstances.
Canvas can be accessed by app (Canvas – developer is Instructure) which in combination with WORD and PowerPoint apps allows work to be done from a mobile phone. This is useful in households where access to laptops and PCs is limited.
We are working hard with families to support students in accessing their work.
Support
This is clearly a very difficult time for all students, away from friends, college and the activities they enjoy. We continue to offer support by phone to students. We are contacting families through MYEd and by phone to check on wellbeing. If you have any concerns about the wellbeing or safety of a student please send a message to DSL@ernestbevin.london.
Back to college?
At this stage we have no indication of a date for the college to reopen. We are awaiting instruction from the government.
