• Coronavirus

Coronavirus

Updated: 30 June 2020

Download:  pdf Ofqual arrangements for exceptional assesssment arrangements (189 KB) (189 KB)

As you will know, the government has announced that all school and college buildings will close to most students from Monday 23 March 2020, until further notice. This means that most students will not be coming into the College for lessons, but they will be continuing to study using online learning.

There are still many questions about examinations and how students will be able to progress if these don’t take place. However, we want to ensure that students can keep on learning and training for their future careers and aspirations. Our teaching teams have, therefore, been preparing learning materials that many students will be able to access online through Moodle (the College’s virtual learning environment) and through Microsoft Teams. Apprentices will also have materials provided for them via the e-portfolio.

Who is affected?

As a college, the education and safety of all our students and staff is our top priority. The position for different groups of students is as follows:

Young people taking full-time qualifications

These students will not come to the College site but will continue their learning online. They will be contacted regularly by teaching and other staff in order to support their learning. At the moment, it will not be possible for students to use the specialist facilities in College (such as workshops, salons, etc) for any practical learning, so we will focus on learning that can be undertaken online.

Apprentices and Higher Education students

These students will not come to the College site and will continue their learning online and in their workplaces. Assessor visits to apprentices and other workplace link visits, will be replaced by online meetings, which will be confirmed beforehand.

Adults taking qualification courses

These students will not come to the College site but will continue their learning online. At the moment, it will not be possible for students to use the specialist facilities in College (such as workshops, salons, etc) for any practical learning, so we will focus on learning that can be undertaken online.

Adult community and leisure courses

Many of these courses will be postponed until later in the year or until alternative arrangements can be put into place.

Distance Learning

This will continue as normal. For more information on FREE Distance Learning courses, please visit our Distance Learning page.

Vulnerable young people and the children of critical key workers

The government has published a list of key workers as:

  • Health and socialcare
  • Education and childcare
  • Key public services
  • Local and national government
  • Food and other necessary goods
  • Public safety and national security
  • Transport
  • Utilities, communication and financial services

The government advice is that, where possible, young people should be at home.

If a student has a parent who is a 'critical key worker', and it is not possible for them to stay safely at home, they will be able to come to the College campus with prior approval. It is likely that most young people of College age can remain safely at home, therefore, it would only be in exceptional circumstances that they would need to be at the College campus.

Parents of students (under 18) who are 'critical key workers' should confirm this with their employer and use this form to request access to the campus for their son or daughter by 16:00 on Friday 20 March 2020.

Students whose parents are key workers but do not need access to the College campus, will continue to learn online.

More information regarding key worker definitions can be found on the government website.

Alternative Arrangements

We are focused on providing access to alternative learning resources and facilities for any of our students who are affected by a disruption in their learning. All of the systems that are required have been put in place and being used. Subject tutors will be contacting their students over the coming days to finalise the right solution for each group.

Students and staff can access a wide range of College services including Moodle, Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, One Drive) and Microsoft Teams by using their usual College email address and password (Reset your password).

Staff: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Students: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Desktop and mobile versions of Microsoft Office 365 can also be downloaded and used for free of charge for students and staff.

Some teachers will provide direct teaching using Microsoft Teams or alternative services. To access Microsoft Teams, you will need the latest version of Chrome, Edge or the Microsoft Teams app. Direct lessons will be scheduled, and the times will be given on Moodle. It is therefore important that all students check Moodle each day. Students will be required to submit work by a time and date set by their teacher, which will support learning and also show that they have been participating. Teachers will then be able to provide feedback.

Useful links

Exams and Assessments

On Friday 03 April 2020 Ofqual announced how A Level and GCSE grades will be awarded this academic year. Ofqual have provided information to explain this.

Should you have further questions there is more detailed guidance available on the Ofqual website.

Vocational Qualifications: Ofqual continues to work with the awarding bodies on how to manage the award of vocational qualifications for 2020. We will provide further information when it is made available. If you have immediate questions that are not answered in this information please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will try to obtain information for you.

Message from Pearson (RE: BTECs)

Stay safe

Student safety is our priority and we continue to follow Government guidelines to maintain a high level of hygiene in the College and support social distancing to minimise risk. We do appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone, but all College staff are committed to maintaining learning and supporting students to get the most out of the coming weeks.

We are following the advice given by Public Health England, who are leading on the Coronavirus response in the UK, through the regular updates that they provide on their website, and we have set up a Business Continuity Team to review these updates on a daily basis.

The best way to slow the spread of coronavirus is to wash your hands frequently using soap and water, or hand sanitiser, especially when you:

  • arrive at College or get home
  • use any shared resources such as keyboards, laptops and iPads
  • use the toilet or other bathroom facilities
  • blow your nose, sneeze or cough
  • eat or handle food

Attendance Hotline

Students who are expected to attend College but are unable to attend, should follow the usual procedure of calling or texting the Attendance Hotline.

Staff should contact their Line Manager and HR (01635 845238) in the event of absence or delayed arrival.

All other students should contact their teacher(s) if they are unable to participate in any of the online learning or sessions.

InTuition Salons and The Restaurant

InTuition Salons and The Restaurant will remain closed until further notice.

All appointments and bookings have been cancelled. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you all again when we are advised that these services may be resumed.

Links

There are a number of ways you can stay up-to-date with the latest news and official advice on coronavirus.

On Friday 3rd April Ofqual announced how A Level and GCSE grades will be awarded this academic year. Ofqual have provided a letter for Students, parents and teachers to explain this: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/877830/Letter_to_students_-_Summer_2020_grading.pdf

Should you have further questions there is more detailed guidance available for you: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/877842/Summer_2020_grades_for_GCSE_AS_A_level_EPQ_AEA_in_maths_-_guidance_for_teachers_students_parents.pdf

Vocational Qualifications: Ofqual continues to work with the awarding bodies on how to manage the award of vocational qualifications for 2020. We will provide further information when it is made available.

If you have immediate questions that are not answered in this information please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will try to obtain information for you

NHS Test and Trace: COVID-19 testing for students

Dear students and parents,

As I have confirmed in my recent letters, testing for those without coronavirus symptoms is beginning across the country using new, quicker COVID-19 tests known as ‘lateral flow tests’.

Along with the other protective measures we are taking, these tests will help staff and students to remain in college safely. Up to one third of people who have coronavirus experience no symptoms. By testing we will help to stop the virus spread and help to keep our college open as safely as possible. The test is voluntary, but I would encourage everyone to take it to protect others at home, friends and the wider community.

Testing will start on Monday 11 January 2021, in the new Highwood Copse School building, which is located immediately behind the College. Signage will be in place and it is easiest to walk the short distance to the school building from the College.

We need you to provide your consent

For all those students who are happy to be tested, please fill in the form by clicking here and by accepting the consent statement included in the form, this will automatically be available to the college. Young people aged 16 to 18, should discuss the test with their parents/carers, before completing the online form. If you do not want to have the test, you should use this form to advise us, this means that we will not contact you further about testing over the coming weeks.

Please complete this form by Monday 04 January 2021, to allow time to plan the tests. We will aim to confirm with the arrangements for your test by Friday 08 January.

Those taking the test will be supervised by staff who have had the training provided by the NHS. The ‘lateral flow’ tests are quick and easy using a swab of your nose and throat. For under 18s, staff can oversee the swab process. Results (which take around half an hour from testing) will be shared directly with students participating. 

Testing will be offered free of charge. pdf This document (98 KB) may help with any questions you have regarding the testing process.

As you know the Government have asked schools and colleges to find volunteers to be able to deliver the testing process to avoid any impact on the education of our students. May I take this opportunity to ask for volunteers for this process. If you are able to support the national testing strategy, please let us know by clicking here.

We will support our staff and students throughout, but please contact us if you need this information in any other language or format or if you have any questions. You can call the office on 01635 845000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Yours faithfully,

Iain Wolloff
Principal

Following the statement from Gavin Williamson (Secretary of State for Education) on Wednesday afternoon, I am writing to confirm the changes to the start of the Spring Term in January. In accordance with the new Government guidance, most students will now be learning online throughout the week commencing 04 January 2021. This will allow time for the College to prepare for Covid-19 testing.

The only students who will attend the College campus during the week beginning 04 January are:

Students who are taking scheduled national examinations 

These exams will be held in a COVID-secure environment and students will leave the college immediately after the exams have finished. Students needing to attend exams in the week of 04 January will be contacted separately to confirm the arrangements.

Students whose parents are key workers (or ‘Critical Workers’) 

If a student has a parent who is a ‘critical worker’ and it is not possible for them to stay safely at home, then they will be able to come to the College campus during their normal College days. The list of critical workers includes: (full list)

  • Health and social care
  • Education and childcare
  • Key public services
  • Local and national government
  • Food and other necessary goods
  • Public safety and national security
  • Transport
  • Utilities, communication and financial services

Students whose parents are agreed as critical workers will be able to come onto the College campus at certain times and will be able to join in with any relevant online learning provided by their teachers and with some other projects, such as careers and personal development activities. Students attending the College in this way will work online and be supervised by a range of staff.

If you are the parent of a student who considers that you are a critical worker and, therefore, you wish your son/daughter to come onto the College campus, please complete this form by 16:00 on Friday 01 January 2021, to help with our planning process. 

Students whose parents are critical workers but do not need access to the College campus, will continue to learn online.

Students who are defined as being in ‘vulnerable groups’ 

The families of these students will be contacted directly on Monday 04 January 2020 to discuss their needs for the first week of term. If you feel that your son/daughter is in a vulnerable group and you haven’t been contacted by 15:00 on Monday 04 January, please contact the College.

From the week beginning 11 January 2021, the guidance says that we should prioritise on-site learning for students taking assessments this year and for those who are vulnerable; which covers almost all students at the College. Therefore, most students (both 16-18s and adults) will return for face-to-face delivery from Monday 11 January 2021. The exception to this will be students of the University Centre Newbury (UCN) who, as previously notified, are working online for the first two weeks of the new term.

Thank you for your continued flexibility and support. We are adapting as quickly as possible to the latest Government guidance to protect our students and communities during the pandemic.

With best wishes

Iain Wolloff
Principal

Following the announcement by Gavin Williamson (Secretary of State for Education) this afternoon, we are now reviewing our plans for the re-opening of the College in January. The guidance is quite complicated for colleges, therefore, we will provide further details tomorrow (Thursday 31st December).

29 December 2020

Dear students, parents and employers

I hope that you are keeping well and have managed to enjoy a restful Christmas break.

Following my letter just before the start of the holiday, I can now update you on the key issues for the start of the new term:

At the moment some of the key points are:

  • Testing - just before Christmas, the Government announced that they would like secondary schools and colleges to carry out Covid-19 testing for students and staff in the new term. The testing takes the same approach as that used in universities (known as ‘lateral flow tests’). The tests are voluntary, so students and staff do not have to take them if they do not wish to do so. New guidance has now been published on how schools and colleges should carry out this testing. Further information can be found in this  pdf short guide produced by the NHS (558 KB) . We are working on the practical arrangements for testing and I will write to you again in the next few days to provide further details and to invite students to register for the tests.
  • Start of term – before Christmas the Government announced that secondary schools and colleges can plan a staggered start to the new term. For us, the guidance says that we should prioritise on-site learning for students taking assessments this year and for those who are vulnerable; which covers almost all students at the College. Therefore, students (both 16-18s and adults) will return for face-to-face delivery from Tuesday 5th January 2021. The exception to this will be students of the University Centre Newbury (UCN) who, as previously notified, are working online for the first two weeks of the new term. As I set out in my last letter, the first day of term (4th January 2021) will be an online learning day for all students. Students will not attend the College on that day but will continue with their online learning. Your teachers will be in touch on that day to ensure you know what you will need to do.

In order to ensure that we keep everyone in our College community as safe as possible, please do not attend College if you have any of the symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with a confirmed case of Covid 19.

Please do ensure that you continue to look at the College website, where we will provide any further updates.

With very best wishes for a positive New Year.

Iain Wolloff
Principal