www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear membersThis week’s Covid-19 communication covers:
As ever the update is issued by BSA in conjunction with our partners BAISIS and ISC. BSA reminds all schools that it is not a medical, statutory or legal authority and any advice is given on that basis. A.1: What has changed WHO figures indicate an increase of three-quarters of a million new cases since last week with 342,029 reported deaths (compared to 307,395) There is significant concern about the rate of increase in infections in Brazil, and in some other South American countries. However the daily rate of increase in cases remains over 1,000 in certain countries in Europe, North America, South-East Asia, and the Middle East. In the UK reported deaths have risen from 34,636 to 36,914 with the rate slowing considerably, but still with a relatively high number of new daily infections compared to many countries. When negotiating a way towards reopening boarding houses, it is essential that we remember the impact of the disease on individuals, families, schools, and communities, and the thoughts of everyone at BSA remain with all those who have been impacted. A.2: Covid-Safe Charter With this in mind, BSA today launches its COVID-SAFE CHARTER. This is a voluntary code to which schools can adhere, and which aims to give confidence to everyone that the school is following all appropriate measures to ensure that boarding is a safe environment for pupils. Although member schools can choose whether they wish to adopt the Covid-Safe Charter, any school doing so must guarantee to meet all of the requirements. These schools may then inform parents, pupils, guardians, and agents that they have adopted the Charter and may share it with those groups as appropriate. BSA has also produced a template letter to which schools may add their own logo and details as appropriate, which international pupils can use as a way of demonstrating that they are travelling back to a BSA member school. BSA is aware that laws, guidance, and regulation vary from country to country, and nothing in the Covid-Safe Charter is designed to override local protocols. However in certain areas the Charter expects schools to go beyond statutory requirements as a way of reassuring everyone that the boarding house is safe. A key issue internationally is that of face-coverings and masks. BSA is aware that some countries, including the UK, do not require face-coverings or masks to be worn, but it is very clear that many parents will not let their child travel back to school unless they can be sure that the pupil will be allowed to wear a mask or face-covering, and will not be criticised for wishing to do so. As highlighted in previous guidance, BSA also advocates that schools will need to be as flexible and accommodating as possible with both new and existing boarders, as not all of them will be able or willing to return immediately. The caveat for those coming to the UK, of course, is for new boarders who are European passport holders to receive clear guidance about the December 31st cut-off for arriving in the UK without additional measures being necessary. A.3: International update BSA held a very successful forum for International members on Friday last, with over fifty people on the call representing more than 40 schools from 20 countries. These included representatives from every continent except Antarctica! The forum was expertly chaired by Nick Wergan, BSA Vice-Chair (Past Chair), and now the European Director of Inspired Education Group. Colleagues waiting to reopen shared their worries and concerns, and those who had reopened, or were about to, gave their perspectives on some of the challenges. Richard Stokes, CEO of the Australian Boarding Schools’ Association shared a particularly valuable “Outbreak Management Plan”, as well as highlighting the other documentation from Australia which is now on the BSA website, along with similar guidance from New Zealand. Other international updates are below, but generally, a return to boarding remains very limited, even where schools are open:
A.4: UK reopening Yesterday the guidance on Year 10 and 12 return to school was issued. This makes no mention of boarding, and contains a number of issues which BSA and ISC are raising with DfE:
The existing guidance on ISOLATION PROCEDURES for a suspected case of COVID in a residential setting remains in place. As previously mentioned Wales and Northern Ireland do not see June 1st as a realistic date for reopening schools. Northern Ireland published a five stage plan but there is no new update from Wales, although WISC contacts the Welsh Government on a regular basis. In Scotland the date of August 11 has been mentioned, but there is no clear guidance that this is a definite date. SCIS maintains a dialogue with the administration, and BSA has regular contact with both SCIS and WISC. The other issue for all parts of the UK is the quarantine arrangement which comes in on June 8 for an unspecified period (though of at least three weeks). BSA is seeking clarification that boarding schools can be used as “accommodation” under the guidance. Please see last week’s guidance for details of other current documentation. A reminder that all of the ISC associations are clear in their advice that, other than for children of key workers and those designated vulnerable, schools must only allow back children in those year groups designated by the Government. A5: Online safety A.6: #BSAheroes If you would like further advice from the BSA, please email bsa@boarding.org.uk. Best wishes
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