Dear Parents and Carers of students at Samuel Ward Academy and Haverhill Community Sixth Form,

I am writing to let you know that following the government announcement yesterday, we are making some changes to our plans for the start of term. We are following the guidance on who should be in school when, and setting up our testing facilities to undertake the mass testing of students and staff. All students and staff will be offered two tests, between three and five days apart, as soon as possible at the start of term. Everyone is encouraged to have a test and do their part to keep every other member of the school community safe, but those who don’t wish to participate in the testing may attend school nonetheless. More details of that testing, including transport arrangements, will be sent out before the start of term.

Week 1

From  Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 January school will be open only for vulnerable children and the children of key workers in a repeat of our very successful mini-school.  We will provide remote learning for all other students. If you are a keyworker without childcare that week and need your child to attend school and have not yet reserved a place, please let Miss Powell know as soon as you can at jpowell@samuelward.co.uk. If you need to borrow laptops to enable your child/ren to access remote learning, please let their year team know as soon as possible.  

During that first week we expect to begin mass testing, with students in Years 11 and 13 who agree to participate coming into school to receive at least one test.

Week 2

From Monday 11 January, Years 11 and 13 will join the vulnerable children and the keyworkers’ children in school. We will provide remote learning for all other students.

During that week we expect to complete second tests for all of Years 11 and 13, and at least first tests for all other year groups.

Week 3

From Monday 18  January we expect that all students will be back in school.

During that week we expect to complete second tests for every student still awaiting one.

I apologise for the late notice – these changes were only announced yesterday and we are having to plan quickly to take account of them. I am sure you will have lots of questions about these arrangements We will be available to answer them more clearly from the start of next week.

Until then, best wishes for a happy new year.

Andy Hunter

Headteacher