MHS update 24-9-2021

I aware that this is the second blog of the week and so I’ll try to keep it brief.

1) Thank you for your support with the return of ‘Masks on the Move’. As you know we have given students three days to get sorted with masks before we expect to see them as part of the uniform from Monday, but already mask wearing in the building has been good. Together we believe we can make a difference to virus transmission whilst not impacting on the quality of education. A reminder that parents/carers can register their child as exempt where needed.

2) Throughout the week it has become increasingly evident that Covid case rates are high in our locality. I know that other schools are suffering too and we can only hope that this phase passes soon. Students isolating with positive cases are able to access remote hybrid lessons, but I know that where staff themselves are unwell these are not always taking place. I know that this is frustrating but all I can do is ask for your patience.

3) Our teaching team are doing a great job pitching in and covering for colleagues who are absent. We’re not anywhere near crisis level yet but I have been asking a lot of my colleagues to go above and beyond normal practice, and I as ever I have been humbled by their response.

4) We have had our first news on the covid vaccine programme. I promised to share with you what I know and so here it is:
• As expected school will be asked to host, but not lead, the vaccine programme,
• The vaccines will be carried out by the NHS school nursing team,
• Within schools, only students for whom signed consent is received from a parent will be given the vaccine. This is important as the Government stated that in some circumstances young people would be able to override the wishes of their parents. Where this is the case students will NOT be given the vaccine in school.
• According to the draft schedule, at our school the vaccines for eligible students with parental consent will take place in mid-November. It will take two days to administer the vaccines to all who are to receive it, during which time we plan for lessons to operate as normal.
• School will help to distribute, collect and collate the consent from parents, passing this information to the nursing team before any vaccinations take place.

As you can imagine we expect a lot more detail as the date of the vaccinations approach. We will share everything that we are asked to share, and will respect the wishes of parents as to what they want to do. Fundamentally we are taking a neutral position, helping to bring the students and nurses together where the vaccine is wanted and not where it isn’t.

5) Extra-curricular PE is properly back! It’s been great seeing students take part in sporting fixtures against local schools this week…and as of next week we’ll have the amazing new sports pitches to use as well. Exciting times!

Take care,

Joe Barker

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