Mrs Cameron sent the following message to all parents and guardians on Wednesday 23 February

Dear Parents and Guardians

As I write this I am extremely optimistic that my “Covid headed letters” are coming to an end or at least they will be the exception rather than the norm.

Further to the Covid announcement from the Prime Minister on 21 February there is a national drive towards living with Covid and managing this through vaccination, ongoing surveillance and contingency planning. The following changes are of direct relevance to Queenswood School from Thursday 24 February 2022; there will be further changes from 1 April 2022 and these will be communicated separately.

1. Testing

From Thursday 24 February, staff and pupils are no longer expected to continue to undertake regular asymptomatic testing and should follow asymptomatic testing advice for the general population. In other words the twice-weekly testing regime will end.

2. Self-isolation and Remote Learning

From Thursday 24 February, the Government will remove the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. However, they are recommending that schools continue to follow the guidance to self-isolate. With this in mind pupils and staff should not attend school if they have a confirmed or suspected case of Covid. Remote learning will continue to be provided for any pupils at home who have tested positive but are asymptomatic and therefore are well enough to study.

Staff and pupils who test positive should therefore stay at home and avoid contact with other people. After 5 days, they may choose to take a Lateral Flow Test followed by another the next day - if both are negative, and they do not have a temperature, they can safely return to their normal routine. Those who test positive should avoid contact with anyone in an at-risk group, including if they live in the same household.

3. Close Contacts

Fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 are no longer required to test daily for 7 days, and there is no longer a requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate. We would ask that those in this situation remain very aware of the symptoms of Covid and monitor their own health accordingly.

We will continue to follow government guidance and do everything we can to ensure we have a safe and happy community. If there are questions or concerns, then please do let me know.

Both staff and students are enjoying a renewed sense of normality. With the summer term just round the corner and preparations for Enrichment Week and Speech Day well under way, Queenswood is certainly re-engaging with its purple glow. I look forward to seeing you all in person again soon over the coming weeks and months.

With best wishes

Jo Cameron
Principal