Happy New Year!

I hope that you and your families have enjoyed a healthy and relaxing break.

With regards to our return to school, all children return on Tuesday 4th January 2022 as planned. It is essential that we all work together to keep our community safe and therefore I ask that parents and carers do not send their children to school if they are showing any symptoms of Covid and instead arrange for their child to take a PCR test. I also ask all children in Years 7 and above take a lateral flow test before their return to school to ensure that any asymptomatic cases can be caught early. If you are a parent/carer of a primary age child then please consider them taking a lateral flow test before returning to school.

Testing has been arranged at school on Tuesday for those children for which we have consent. If you have not consented for your child to be tested but would now like them to take a test please email Ms Newton so that your child can be added to the list:  LNewton@qegsblackburn.com

Testing starts for those in the Sixth form at 8.25am in the Main Hall and I ask for those Sixth Formers who are having a test to report to the Main Hall as soon as they arrive at school.

In addition, all children in Years 7 and above must now wear a face mask both in communal areas and in classrooms unless they are exempt. Please can you ensure that your child brings a face mask with them to school each day as we only have limited stock available which will only be used to replace face masks that break during the day.
We are now going to experience a period of colder weather. It is essential, even during this colder period, that some windows in classrooms are kept open in order to ensure effective ventilation and therefore, from Tuesday 4th January 2022 until further notice, children will be allowed to wear a jumper/sweatshirt underneath their blazer or a coat over their blazer. Ideally a jumper should be a school jumper or school hoodie but, if this is not possible, then please ensure that the jumper is appropriate for school use. All other normal school uniform should be worn including a shirt and tie. Please do not send your child to school with a scarf instead of a jumper as these do cause issues in practical lessons.
Thank you for your cooperation with these matters.
Kind regards
Mrs CY Gammon