COVID-19 Safety at St Swithun's
During the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation, our priorities continue to be the delivery of rigorous, high-quality education for our students and ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of the entire school community.
Following a second successful period of remote teaching St Swithun’s is open in accordance with UK government guidance and based on the following key components:
Prevention
- Minimising contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have COVID-19 symptoms, or who live with someone who has symptoms, do not attend school
- Using face coverings in school where recommended
- Cleaning hands thoroughly at regular intervals and more often than usual
- Ensuring good respiratory hygiene practice by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach
- Enhanced cleaning including cleaning frequently-touched surfaces
- Minimising contact between individuals and maintaining social distancing where possible
- Where necessary, utilising appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
Response to an infection
- Engaging with the UK National Health Service (NHS) Test and Trace process
- Managing confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst the school community
- Containing any outbreak by following the advice of local health protection teams
Health and safety policies, including the COVID-19 Return to School Risk Assessment, and protocols for the pupils, staff and parents of both the senior and prep schools have been approved by the school’s governing body and are regularly reviewed and updated in line with government guidance and the performance of the school.
St Swithun’s has also adopted the Covid-Safe Charter, drawn up by the Boarding Schools Association, which represents UK and some international boarding schools. The measures in the Charter are rigorous and go beyond the minimum standards imposed by the UK government. The measures could change if increasing scientific knowledge about Covid-19 results in different advice.
BSA COVID-Safe Charter in English
Chinese language translation of COVID-Safe Charter
Russian language translation of COVID-Safe Charter
German-language translation of COVID-Safe Charter
A letter released by the UK department of trade to all international school students and their parents in April 2021 is here.
