Buckinghamshire College Group would like to reassure all staff, students, parents and business partners that it is following the Public Health guidance issued by the Government and its agencies.
Update: 14th April 2021
Summer Term 19th April 2021
Dear students
I hope that you have had a good holiday and we look forward to welcoming more of you back to more face to face learning over the coming weeks. You will have received a letter before the end of last term with the plan for your course and campus. If you are unsure of the plan for your course, please do contact your Tutor or Curriculum Manager who will be happy to advise.
We know that it has been a difficult year for you with disrupted learning and development of your practical skills. The summer term is the opportunity for us all to work together to help you to successfully develop those practical and learning skills, achieve your qualification and progress to the next stage. Your timetabled lessons will continue as normal. We also have some small group learning to provide additional support for those you who may need it, and you can discuss this with your tutor. Your attendance at all timetabled lessons, virtual or face to face is critical to your success and we expect you to continue to attend 100% of the time.
With more students in attendance, it is really important that we continue to follow the COVID-safer learning and working personal responsibilities at all times whilst on campus to keep everyone safe. We will be continuing with face coverings in classrooms, workshops and communal areas in line with government advice. Please remember your personal responsibilities to keeping yourself and others safe – FACE, SPACE, HANDS and FRESH AIR. The College COVID Risk Assessment and Control Measures has been updated and can be found on our website. Every classroom door has the COVID-Safer Learning personal responsibilities poster so please remind yourself of these.
We will continue to offer twice weekly home testing for students and staff, and I strongly recommend that you complete these and report the result to Track and Trace – it helps to keep us all safe. Please remember that you must not attend College campuses if you have a positive test or symptoms of COVID, however mild they are. Please let the College know if you receive a positive test result or you have symptoms.
I know that many of you will be looking forward to being in College more but some of you may feel anxious about returning. Please do talk through any concerns with your tutor or our Student Services team who are on each campus and will be able to help.
I wish you lots of success for this term, and I hope that we will be able to move towards a more normal summer term of learning.
Best wishes
Karen Mitchell
Principal and CEO - Buckinghamshire College Group
Update: 7th April 2021
Following further communication from the Government unless exempt, we expect students and staff to continue to wear face coverings in classrooms and workshops as well as in communal and public areas of the College campus. We are told this measure will stay in place until atleast 17th May 2021.
Update: 2nd March 2021
Dear Students
We are looking forward to welcoming you back to our College campuses.
We will be continuing with a blended learning approach of face-to-face learning on campus and live virtual timetables until Easter. Our intention is that from then, we continue to change the blended learning mix to move all students safely to 100% face-to-face learning on campus each week through a phased approach. This may be different for each campus, level of programme and course and you will shortly receive a letter from your Faculty Director with the details for your course.
Attendance expectations are the same for face-to-face or live virtual timetables and you are expected to attend 100% of your sessions. If you have any concerns or issues with learning or technology, please discuss with your tutor or students services so that we can help you.
In addition to the blended learning phased approach, we will be offering some small group tuition to support students with their learning. If you feel that you would benefit from this, please do talk with your tutor.
We continue to follow the DfE, Government and Public Health advice for Further Education Colleges to make our campuses as safe as possible.
You will have received information last week regarding the mass lateral flow testing that we are offering students, and whilst this is a voluntary scheme, we would strongly encourage you to take up these tests so that we can continue to provide COVID safer learning and working on campus for everyone. Once you have completed 3 tests you will be able to home test twice weekly and we will provide you with the home test kits.
The current Government advice for students who have received a letter to say they are clinically extremely vulnerable is to continue to shield until 31st March at the earliest. If this applies to you, please contact your tutor so that we can discuss any concerns, and support you with learning during this time.
In line with Government advice for schools and college we expect, unless exempt, for students and staff to wear face coverings in the classroom and workshops. This is to help protect each other. We understand that the Government is due to review this at Easter. Face coverings should continue to be worn in communal and public areas of the College campus.
These measures, and the measures in the College risk assessment, which can be found on the website are there to help protect us all from the spread of COVID. It is expected that we will work together to keep each other as safe as possible whilst on campus and that includes social distancing, regular handwashing and not attending College if you have any COVID symptoms. If you are unsure what you should be doing, there are posters on the classroom doors regarding your responsibilities or talk to a member of staff.
I know that some of you may feel anxious about returning to face to face learning after lockdown and we are here to help, please talk to your tutor or student services about the range of support available.
I look forward to welcoming you back
Best wishes
Karen Mitchell
Principal and CEO - Buckinghamshire College Group
Update: 25th February 2021
NHS Test and Trace: COVID-19 testing for Students
Dear Students, Parents and Carers,
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement Monday afternoon, we are currently reviewing updated guidance and we will be in touch with you soon to confirm our plans from the 8th March onwards. As part of the Government's roadmap for exiting lockdown, testing for those without coronavirus symptoms is planned across the country using new, quicker COVID‑19 tests known as ‘lateral flow devices’.
This is a significant undertaking where we will have discretion on how to phase the return of our students to allow for testing to take place. We have been guided to implement an initial programme of three tests in College, and students will then be provided with two rapid tests to use each week at home. The process for testing is significant and we will need to scale up our existing testing practice and prepare to complete a testing programme over a two-to-three-week period.
Up to one third of people who have coronavirus are asymptomatic. By testing we will help to reduce the spread in school and college settings through asymptomatic transmission. I am therefore strongly encouraging those returning to College to be tested.
Consent for Testing
To take part in the testing programme, you must provide consent for testing. To help us prepare we are asking that our consent form be completed now, in readiness for your return to College. The link to the consent form is http://bit.ly/bcgc19form, or alternatively you can scan the QR code using your smartphone or device at the end of this letter. Full details of the consent are available via the link and a copy of the Privacy Notice is attached to this email.
Plan for testing
We are planning to test all staff and students aged 16-19 or 24 with an EHCP as they return after the current lockdown period. The updated guidance allows us to extend testing to adult students attending College.
It has been published nationally that in addition to the above, plans were in place to offer close contact testing where, any staff member or student who has come into contact with positive cases in our College can be tested daily for seven days to allow them to continue to attend as an alternative to a period of self isolation. Government guidelines have currently changed and at present this option is longer being offered. If this changes, we will write to you again to confirm those arrangements.
How the tests work
Those taking the test will be supervised by trained staff and volunteers. The lateral flow tests are quick and easy to undertake, using a swab of the nose and throat. Results (which take around half an hour from testing) will be shared directly with the individual participant. The College will inform the student of a positive test result. Where participants are under 16, parents or legal guardians will also be informed. The student will also receive a text notification of a positive or negative result from the NHS Test and Trace system. Tests are free of charge and I enclose a leaflet with further information.
What if a student tests positive?
If a student tests positive on a lateral flow device, this is now deemed as accurate as a home PCR test and students should self-isolate for 10 days or according to the latest government guidance.
What happens if the test is negative?
While a small number of students may need to repeat the test if the first test was invalid or void for some reason, students who test negative will be able to stay in College and resume their activities as normal. Students will be informed of negative test results via text. Where participants are under 16, parents or legal guardians will also be informed.
What if a student develops symptoms?
This testing programme at College is for people with no symptoms. If a student develops symptoms at any time (including a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) they must immediately self-isolate, and book a test by calling 119 or visiting https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
We will support our staff and students throughout, but please contact us if you have any questions. You can contact the office by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Aylesbury Campus) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Amersham and Wycombe Campuses)
We hope you will be able to support us in ensuring our learning environment stays safe. We ask that you follow the link to provide your consent now, in readiness of the College reopening.
How to do your test - Covid 19 instructions for schools and colleges
Best wishes
Karen Mitchell
Principal and CEO - Buckinghamshire College Group
Update: 24th February 2021
Latest Government Announcement
In line with the government guidance for schools and colleges this week, we look forward to welcoming more students back to campuses over the coming weeks. We are currently finalising our plans including regular testing for staff and students and will be in a position to share this with you at the beginning of next week. In the meantime, please continue to attend your classes virtually.
Best wishes
Karen Mitchell
Principal and CEO - Buckinghamshire College Group
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For further information please refer to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public which is updated daily at 14:00.
