Click here for the Headteacher’s letter about school return – 6th September 2020

Welcome back!
Through the summer we have been busy preparing for the reopening of the school to all students. New systems have been introduced, new building works completed and a whole range of changes put in place to minimise all risks and help ensure the safety of our staff and students. At the same time teachers have been working to adapt their schemes of work and lesson plans so that students are able to restart and resume their learning effectively and happily.
We know from the ImpactEd survey that students are anxious about their return to school. We know some are worried about the learning they have missed, others are concerned about the classes they will join, everyone has some questions about what school will be like. We have been through such a unique experience, it would be strange if there were not some worries! But we have done so much that we are confident we have the plans in place to keep everyone safe and allow everyone to be their best. Of course, there will be some things that don’t go according to plan and we will need to adjust these as they occur, but we are certain that our staff, our students and everyone in our wider community has got what it takes to make school return safe and happy and our new ways of working a success.
In the following pages I outline some of the changes we have introduced, and some of the new expectations that form part of your Highgate Wood School.
Looking forward to a fantastic new academic year.

With best wishes.

Patrick Cozier

Headteacher

Key Information

Please click on the publications on the right hand side to get key information about returning to school.  Welcome Back to School provides the key information needed for the coming term, whilst the Return to School publication, which we issued early in the summer holidays, explains some of the arrangements for the first few days.

Please be aware that different year groups will be arriving at different times and using different entrances. Years 7, 11 and 13 will be starting school on Monday 7th September (all other year groups will remain at home).  On Tuesday 8th September the school will welcome back Year 7s, and also Years 8, 9, 10 and 12. Year 11 and 13 will complete home study tasks.  Please look at the Return to School booklet for the timings for these two days.

Wednesday 9th September will see all students back in school.  They will be coming in at the staggered times and through the different entrances that are given in the booklets and this will be the routine for the coming weeks.

Year 7, 8 and 9 students will need to arrive in school between 8:15 am and 8:25am and go to their assembly point to be greeted by their Period 1 teacher. There assembly points will be near the entrance points they need to use.

Year 7s will come in at the Montenotte Road entrance, Year 8s will come in at the Park Road entrance, Year 9s will enter at the Tennis Courts.

Years 10 and 11 will need to arrive between 8:30am and 8:40am and will need to go to their assembly point to be greeted by their Period 1 teacher.

Year 10s will arrive through the Montenotte Road entrance, Year 11s through the Park Road entrance.

Post 16 students will need to arrive in school between 8:45am and 8:55am and will go straight to their Period 1 lesson.  They should use the Montenotte Road entrance.

Safety and Prevention

In Welcome Back to School we have detailed many of the systems and changes we have put in place to ensure that school is a safe place for staff and students to attend, to work and to be happy. This should be seen together with the latest government guidance What parents and carers need to know about schools in the autumn term.  We want all students to be in school, but it is important that parents do not send their child to school if they are showing coronavirus symptoms or if someone in their household is showing symptoms. Students should not attend if they are required to self-isolate following public health advice.  In these cases we ask families to contact the school so that we can make arrangements, if appropriate, to provide remote education.

If any student develops coronavirus symptoms whilst in school (they will be collected from their classroom and supported by the school’s Medical Needs Assistant whilst their family or emergency contacts are alerted and arrangements made for them to be taken home, where they will be able to arrange to have a test to see if they do have coronavirus.  It is critical that we have accurate, up-to-date family contact details for all students. Whilst they are waiting to be taken home they will be kept in a well-ventilated location that isolates them by at least two metres from others, and will be supported by appropriately trained staff.  There is a clear procedure in place for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus infections which can be accessed here and includes the importance of engaging with NHS Track and Trace.

Updates and Information

We will continue to update families with information to help support the return to school and provide answers to the questions you may have.  Please email covid@hws.haringey.sch.uk with your enquiries.