Changes to the start of the Spring term 2021: update December 31

Important announcement for the attention of all students, parents and carers

Attendance at Bishop Auckland College from Monday 4 January – Friday 15 January 2021 (first two weeks of term) 

Following the Government’s announcement this week about the need to minimise the number of students on site during the first two weeks of term, revisions have been made to many course timetables. 

This means that lessons for some courses will be conducted fully remotely via Teams for these first two weeks, and Teams links will be provided to students in advance of these lessons taking place. 

For some other courses, timetables and delivery methods will remain exactly as they were prior to the Christmas break, with some lessons taking place at the College campus and other lessons via remote learning. 


Arrangements for specific courses 

Many courses will be fully remote (via Teams) for the two weeks from Monday 4 January 2021. However, the selected courses listed below will continue with timetables and delivery methods exactly as they were prior to the Christmas break. This means that lessons scheduled to take place at the College campus will go ahead at the campus. 

These courses have been selected because they can be categorised as ‘priority groups’ as specified by the Government’s guidance for colleges.

Reasons for this could include, for example: 

• Public examinations or assessments are due to take place in January 2021.

• Students may require additional support than can be provided remotely, including any students who are vulnerable.

• Or because fully remote learning is less effective at engaging students on certain courses/subjects.

The relevant Government guidance can be found at this link: 

gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-fe-providers-return-in-january-2021/further-education-fe-providers-return-in-january-2021 

As before, strict health and safety measures will be in place, including two metre social distancing within all learning areas, compulsory face masks within communal areas, one way systems, hygiene measures, sneeze screens, etc. 

The following courses will follow the timetables and delivery methods that were in place prior to the Christmas break: 


Art, music and performing arts    


Hairdressing 
All Level 1 groups 


Beauty 


Construction and motor vehicle
Brick, joinery, painting and decorating, construction, motor vehicle – all courses including apprenticeships 


IT 
Pearson Diploma for IT Users Level 2 


Early years 


Health & Social Care 


Uniformed public services 

All other courses that are not listed above will be taught fully remotely via Teams for two weeks from Monday 4 January 2021. This includes all higher education programmes. 


Critical worker parents/carers 

There is also the opportunity for young people (16-18 year olds and those with EHCPs) to attend the College campus where parents/carers are critical workers who wish to take up this offer. To make arrangements for this, parents/carers should email their request to start@bacoll.ac.uk, identifying the name of the student and the course attended. 


COVID-19 rapid asymptomatic testing  

It is the intention that from the week commencing 11 January 2021, Bishop Auckland College will provide the opportunity for rapid coronavirus testing of students and staff in order to identify individuals who may be unknowingly infected without displaying symptoms (i.e. asymptomatic cases). Further information will be provided about this during the week commencing 4 January 2021. 


Examination on Thursday 7 January 2021: Award in Number and Measure 

This mathematics examination will be going ahead as planned, with rigorous social distancing measures in place. It is important that students attend for this examination where they have been registered to do so. 


What should I do if I suspect I have Coronavirus? 

Please do not attend college if you or anyone in your household are showing Covid-19 symptoms. If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus: 

• Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.

• You, and anyone you live with, should stay at home and not have visitors until you get your test result – it is critical that you only leave your home to have a test.

• Anyone in your support bubble should also stay at home if you have been in close contact with them since your symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started.

• Let the College know you have symptoms and the result of the test once you have received it.

• The College requires you to stay at home and self-isolate for at least 10 days as per Government guidance if you test positive for the virus. And finally… 

We look forward to working together over the coming months and I would like to wish everyone within the Bishop Auckland College community a very happy, healthy and peaceful year ahead in 2021. 

Natalie Davison-Terranova
Principal/Chief Executive