Keeping you safe in college
Find out what measures are in place for students attending college in September.
Keeping you safe in college
Your safety in college is our number one priority. During the summer break we have been finalising the adaptions and controls we have implemented to ensure a safe and healthy working and learning environment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
They include:
- One-way systems where possible
- Two metre distance floor markings
- Installation of hand sanitiser dispensers throughout the college
- Enhanced cleaning regime
- Blended learning, with a mix of days in college and remote learning, to reduce learner numbers in college each day
- Reduced class sizes to ensure social distancing
- Staggered timetables to facilitate social distancing and avoid busy corridors, entrances and exits during break and lunch periods
- Removal of social gathering areas
- Only essential visitors permitted.
Read our full Covid-19 student guidance here.
Arriving at college
- Wear a face covering if you use public transport
- Maintain a two-metre social distance at all times whilst travelling
- Arrive at college in time for your lesson – not too early or late.
Entering and moving around the building
- You must sanitise your hands upon entry
- Wash and sanitise your hands on a regular basis – ensure your hands are dry after you wash them
- When not in classrooms/offices please ensure face coverings are worn at all times
- Always try to maintain two metres’ distance from others – respect others’ personal space
- Observe and follow all designated circulation routes and keep left where possible
- Passenger lifts should only be used by those who cannot use the stairs, or those transporting large items
- Social distancing must be maintained at the smoking area, there are no two metre markings at the smoking area so please use common sense and respect others’ personal space
- The college understands that people may be anxious when returning and may feel comfortable with a face covering, therefore we will support anyone who chooses to wear a face covering.
Cleaning and hygiene
- The college will follow the COVID-19: Cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance
- The college will ensure adequate supply and distribution of hand sanitiser across the site
- Students are also encouraged to bring hand sanitiser with them and use it regularly
- Hand washing or sanitising hands must be done on a regular basis; this is important to prevent and limit the spread of the virus. This should be done:
- upon arrival at the college
- break periods
- before and after eating
- after coughing or sneezing
- when they change rooms
- handling shared materials or equipment.
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eye and face. Sneeze or cough hygienically. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing. Bin the tissue and then sanitise your hands (Catch it, bin it, kill it). Follow social distancing rules in toilets and whilst washing hands. There may be a need to leave and re-enter a toilet area if is busy
- Wipe down any equipment you may use that will be used by others where practical
- Desks and workstations must be kept tidy and cleaned after use
- Always follow any cleaning procedure set by your tutor.
Showing symptoms of COVID-19?
- 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.
- Please do not attend college if you or anyone in your household are showing Covid-19 symptoms:
- A high temperature over 37.5ºC – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal o You or anyone you live with are self-isolating with symptoms*.
- If you or anyone in your household have tested positive for COVID-19 you must not attend and follow government guidance: households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
- In the event of starting to develop symptoms whilst onsite, you must do the following:
- Inform your tutor who will then inform student support services o If you have a face covering/mask, put this on as soon as possible
- Leave the building and go home as soon as possible, limiting contact with people, equipment and surfaces i.e. do not stop to talk to friends or try to finish off any work o If it is not possible to leave immediately i.e. no access to personal vehicle, you will be moved to a room, preferably with a window for ventilation and where a two-metre distance can be maintained.
- Where maintaining a two metre social distance cannot be achieved, i.e. close personal care required or emergency situations, that person will be provided with the required personal protective equipment
- Your next of kin must be informed so that the appropriate transport arrangements can be made. Please ensure you provide next of kin details and inform us of any changes to these details.
- You must arrange a Covid-19 test
- The college engages with the NHS test and trace process to manage and contain any outbreaks within the community by following local health protection team advice.
- In the event of any outbreak you must be ready and willing to:
- Arrange a test if you are displaying symptoms
- Provide details of anyone you have been in close contact with if you were to test positive for coronavirus (Covid-19)
- Self-isolate if you have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus (Covid-19)
- Anyone who displays symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19) can and should get a test. Tests can be booked online through the NHS website, or ordered by telephone via NHS 119 for those without access to the internet. Essential workers, which includes anyone involved in education or childcare, have priority access to testing.
- If you test negative, feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (Covid-19), you can stop self-isolating. However you could still have another virus, such as a cold or flu – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with other people until you are better. Other members of your household can stop self-isolating.
Visitors and Contractors
Only visitors essential to the college operations are permitted to attend the campus. Contractors will only attend site with prior permission and with approval of paperwork i.e. risk assessment and method statements (RAMS) in relation to COVID-19. Read the full guidance for visitors and contractors here.
Applications, enrolment and induction
We are still taking applications for courses starting in September. If you need advice contact us at start@bacoll.ac.uk or call 01388 443 000.
Full time student induction starts on September 1st with lessons starting at 10am. Every student who has enrolled should have received a letter with full induction arrangements. If you haven’t, please contact us at start@bacoll.ac.uk or call 01388 443 000.