RETURNING SAFELY TO SHERBORNE GIRLS Parent Edition
Contents MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMISTRESS
4
GUIDANCE AND CONSIDERATION
7
LOGISTICS OF REOPENING
8
Overview, review and updates Michaelmas Term - start, exeats, half-term and end of term Boarding during exeat and the October half-term Start of term pupil and parent welcome Pupil induction programme Heathrow coach
THE PASTORAL FOCUS
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Boarding houses and social distancing Tutors Social distancing in and between boarding houses Will siblings in different years at SG and siblings at Sherborne School be able to meet? Evening leave, weekend leave, town visits and parental visits Day Girls, Day Boarders, arrangements and social distancing Day Girl registration Boarding status for Day Girls and Day Boarders Day Girl drop off and collection from School Social media and wellbeing Clothing requirements
THE ACADEMIC FOCUS Lessons Specialist lessons General Additional items required for the start of term 2
25
SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
THE CO-CURRICULAR FOCUS
26
Whole School gatherings: assembly, school prayers, hymn practice, services Sport The Oxley Sports Centre Music Drama Other co-curricular activities, clubs and societies Offsite visits and trips Leadership opportunities and positions of responsibility Competition Evening and weekend activities
CLEANING OF THE SCHOOL SITE AND HAND SANITISERS
34
HEALTH CENTRE PROVISION, GP SURGERY AND COUNSELLING
35
Flu vaccination HPV vaccination Suspected cases of COVID-19 (C19)
WHAT IF THE GOVERNMENT CLOSES SCHOOLS AGAIN?
37
SEPTEMBER 2020: WHAT WILL A SG DAY LOOK LIKE FOR A BOARDING PUPIL
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SEPTEMBER 2020: WHAT WILL A SG DAY LOOK LIKE FOR A DAY PUPIL
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CONTACT DETAILS
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PARENT CONTACT DETAILS
41
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Message from the Headmistress Dear Parents and Guardians, With less than a fortnight to go before your daughters return to us at Sherborne Girls, we are in the final phase of preparing the School for reopening and are thoroughly looking forward to welcoming the girls back onto campus. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for the Parent Focus Groups on Tuesday 11 August and the Parent Information and Q&A sessions on Friday 14 August. We were delighted that more than 140 families were able to do so. In addition to these sessions we also ran Pupil Focus Groups on Tuesday 18 August and Wednesday 19 August which were attended by >20 girls. These sessions afforded us the opportunity to hear from you and your daughters about our plans for reopening and refine our proposals accordingly. Key themes that came through in these sessions included: starting with a strong plan to protect the girls and relax over time, rather than vice-versa; despite the success of the Remote Schooling offering, not to revert to this way of operating unless forced to do so by the Government; to provide engaging activities for the girls not only during the day but also during the evenings and weekends; to provide ample opportunities for siblings in different year groups to see each other; to integrate the Day Girls as much as possible; to consider holiday and exeats for overseas girls; plus suggestions regarding flu vaccinations, COVID-19 (C19) tests, dental and medical appointments. As a School with 470 pupils and a similar number of sets of parents, it is unrealistic that we would ever be able to adjust our plans sufficiently to address every individual request and preference although we have tried to be as flexible and accommodating as possible. Our overriding focus throughout this planning process has been your daughters’ safety, wellbeing, happiness and holistic educational experience. Having considered and reflected upon the discussions and feedback provided during the sessions referred to above, we have refined our reopening plans and are delighted to share these with you. We hope you find the following information both useful and reassuring, and feel that we have managed to address concerns raised and ideas presented to result in the best balance between delivering the highest quality education and providing a fulfilling boarding structure where your daughters will be engaged and happy, whilst mitigating the risk of importation or transmission of the C19 virus, all within the current confines to which we must adhere. Certain sections of this document are the same as our previous SGR1 communication, whilst others contain considerable additional information in light of developments since that time. We feel it is important that you have one reference point which contains the detailed information you might need prior to the start of term. We are very proud of what has been developed over the last few months; we believe that Sherborne Girls is in an extremely strong position to welcome our girls back and that we have considered carefully and consulted widely regarding our plans.
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Our measures and plans will remain under constant review and an update will be sent to all parents and guardians on Friday 25 September, as outlined in table 1 (page 11). If there are any points you would like to raise with me regarding reopening, please do not hesitate to contact me at Headmistress@sherborne.com using the subject heading ‘September Reopening’, and I will ensure your query is dealt with by the relevant person. We genuinely welcome feedback and collaboration so please do not hesitate to contact us at any time. On behalf of the entire Sherborne Girls staff I would like to wish you all an enjoyable last few weeks of the summer holiday and express how much we are all looking forward to welcoming your daughters back to SG. Best wishes,
Dr Ruth Sullivan Headmistress
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Guidance and Consideration In planning for reopening, the Senior Leadership
We are extremely fortunate that the number of C19
Team has been working closely with our Health and
cases in Sherborne and Dorset remain very low and
Safety Advisor, Deputy Bursar and all Staff in putting
that the SG campus allows for social distancing to be
these plans together, as well as drawing on guidance
incorporated with relatively little disruption and
from ASCL, AGBIS, HMC, GSA, ISC, BSA1 in their
impact on the pupils and staff. No approach, apart
COVID-SAFE Charter, the Government and liaising
from complete isolation, can guarantee absolute
with our Governing Body and School Insurers. At all
protection from the C19 virus, and we believe that
times our plans have taken into consideration the
‘perfect’ social distancing is impossible in a boarding
Government Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance which
school environment. We are also aware that the C19
can be found here.
virus, as seen in various areas around the world
In addition, feedback from pupils during house
young people remaining a low risk category, we must
recently, is far from over and despite, thankfully, meetings, tutorials and classes, as well as parental
not allow complacency to set in. Our aim at SG is to
comments in email and telephone communication,
give the girls an experience as close to normality as
have been incorporated. To refine our plans further
possible, with systems in place that minimise the risk
and ensure they are as carefully considered and
of transmission.
thorough as possible, two Parent Focus Groups took place on Tuesday 11 August, two Parent Information
To keep the School site as safe as possible, all non-
and Q&A sessions ran on Friday 14 August and two
essential visits will be discouraged and essential visits
Pupil Focus Groups occurred on Tuesday 18 and
carefully managed and restricted. This requirement
Wednesday 19 August.
extends to parents, guardians as well as external contractors, further details can be found later in this
We have also been working throughout our planning
document.
process with Sherborne School. Due to specifics associated with, for example, boarding house
As experienced professionals our staff fully appreciate
structure, dining and site layout, variations will
their duty of care and responsibility to the girls and
naturally exist between each school’s plan. Both
will take all appropriate measures to minimise the risk
schools will continue to collaborate fully so all
of the C19 virus being brought into the School
potential issues and concerns are given due
environment.
consideration. We are committed to delivering the best possible ‘separate yet together’ offering within
In line with Government guidance, the results of the
the confines that currently exist.
School’s risk assessment for re-opening are being made publicly available. These include risk
In planning for the fullest possible reopening of the
assessments for boarding houses, teaching and non-
School in September 2020, our priority is to ensure
teaching areas, co-curricular activities in addition to
the safest possible educational experience for your
individual risk assessments for any vulnerable pupil or
daughters, while maintaining the highest standards of
member of staff. If you wish to receive a copy of our
academic and co-curricular provision and pastoral
risk assessment document, please email
care. The safety of your daughters above all other
bursar@sherborne.com
considerations has been prioritised, including their mental and physical health and happiness. 1 ASCL: Association of School and College Leaders; AGBIS: Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools; HMC: Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference; GSA: Girls’ Schools Association; ISC: Independent Schools Council; BSA: Boarding Schools’ Association.
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Logistics of Reopening Overview, review and updates
referred to throughout this document as SGR1.
Michaelmas Term start, exeats, half-term and end of term
These plans are based on current guidance as of
There will be no changes to the dates previously
Our plans for a return to School in September are
21 August 2020 and replace those circulated previously (20 July). To ensure the girls and staff have time to adjust to the structure and changes required of our SGR1 plan, the details referred to below will operate until at least the October half-term break. During the first half of the Michaelmas term, SGR1 will constantly be reviewed and, if risk, guidance, and requirements permit, restrictions will be lifted and adjusted as and when appropriate. An interim review will take place prior to the first exeat weekend (25-27 September), which will focus on certain arrangements for the girls, for example, social distancing, visits, leave, etc. A major halfterm review will be provided to staff, parents, guardians, and girls during the week commencing 12 October 2020, at which point the plans will be referred to as SGR2. 8
published in our Term Dates of the start and end of our Michaelmas term, exeat weekends and halfterm. We will work with any family for whom term dates present difficulties, for example if you are unable to book a flight for your daughter to return home at Christmas on a specific date, due to restrictions and availability.
SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
The days on which different year groups are required to return to School has not changed although to regulate the number of visitors on site at any one time we are managing arrival times. We would now like to ask you to book a specific time to return your daughter to School in September to ensure that pupils do not all arrive at the same time. Time slots for returning to School can be accessed via this link. We will be as accommodating as possible regarding return times, especially for those of you who may have more than one daughter at Sherborne Girls or those who also have a son at Sherborne School.
Boarding during exeat and the October half-term We may also stagger collection and arrival times for the Michaelmas exeats and October half-term and if so, will communicate this with you in due course. Sherborne Girls will remain open during the Michaelmas exeats and October half-term should any girl be unable to return home. If this is something you would like to register for, even if only provisionally, please could you do so using this link.
Please note that there will be no pre-season training before the start of the Michaelmas term. Discussions with Network Rail are ongoing regarding arrangements for the School train that normally operates for exeats, half-term and the end of term and we intend to circulate details during the first week back at School. 9
Start of term pupil and parent welcome
Pupil induction programme
Heathrow coach
On Saturday 5 September all
There will be some changes to
alternative transport, will
pupils and parents will be sent
our Pupil Induction Programme,
operate as usual at the start of
links to two pre-recorded
scheduled for Sunday 6 and
term, albeit with social
welcome videos. One will be a
Monday 7 September although
distancing and additional safety
house-based welcome where
the days on which pupils will be
measures in place. Pupils using
the Boarders’ HMs will walk
required to arrive at School
the coach service will be
The Heathrow coach, or suitable
them through the layout of the
remain the same. Exact timings
required to wear a face covering
house and what they should
and schedules for each year
expect when they return to
group can be found via this link..
during the drive and will be seated a maximum distance
School; or, for Day Girls, a
apart for the journey. If you
similar video focussing on
would like to book your
arrangements for them. The
daughter onto the Heathrow
second will be a more general
Coach, please contact:
welcome video from me and
office@sherborne.com
other senior members of staff, focusing on the plan for lessons, assembly, school prayers and co-curricular activities.
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Please note, the wearing of a face covering at all times on public transport is now a legal requirement in England.
SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Focus and mode of communication
Date of communication
Sherborne Girls Reopening Phase 1 (SGR1) document emailed outlining key changes adopted in reopening plans
Monday 20 July 2020
Teams Call - Parent Focus Group for parents of overseas pupils
Tuesday 11 August 12:00 BST
Teams Call - Parent Focus Group for parents of UK based pupils
Tuesday 11 August 18:00 BST
Teams Call - Information and Q&A session for parents of overseas pupils
Friday 14 August 12:00 BST
Teams Call - Information and Q&A session for parents of UK based pupils
Friday 14 August 18:00 BST
Teams Call - Pupil Focus Group
Tuesday 18 August 12:00 BST and Wednesday 19 August 18:00 BST
SGR1 Final Update - document emailed to provide further details regarding September reopening (this document)
Tuesday 25 August
Virtual welcome videos circulated to all pupils and parents via email
Saturday 5 September 09:00 BST
Teams Call - Start of Term Parent Welcome and Q&A session (email with link to meeting to be sent on Saturday 5 September)
Saturday 5 September 12:00 BST
Exeat Update - document emailed to provide a brief update of the situation and changes where appropriate
Friday 25 September
Half-term Review - document emailed to provide an update on the situation and outline any changes that might be implemented after the half-term break (SGR2)
w/c Monday 12 October
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The Pastoral Focus Boarding houses and social distancing We are aware that expecting every pupil to socially
will be reviewed prior to the October half-term
distance 24/7 whilst in a full boarding environment
break and communicated to girls, parents and
is both unrealistic and impractical. Equally, however,
guardians within the SGR2 update during the week
we know how effective social distancing can be in
commencing 12 October.
reducing the transmission of the C19 virus. Within each year group boarding house, girls will When pupils and staff return in September, we will
be grouped together based on their original house;
be adopting an approach designed to minimise the
for example, a pupil who last year was a L5 in
time that pupils across the School spend in close
Kenelm will be kept with her peers from Kenelm
proximity to each other and staff, whilst also
when she moves to Aldhelmsted East and into M5
enabling the girls to be with their peers and benefit
this September.
from the fantastic opportunities a boarding environment can offer. We intend to do this through the creation of year group bubbles.
During the period that single-age houses are in operation, the HM listed above should be your initial point of contact when communicating with
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From September 2020 our boarding house
the School regarding your daughter. The HMs will
structure will be changed except for Aldhelmsted
liaise with one another throughout this period to
West (L4 and U4/Years 7 and 8) and Mulliner (Year
ensure that all information pertinent to your
13). Each boarding house will accommodate a
daughter is shared appropriately, allowing for a
single age-group as shown in the table opposite.
smooth transition for your daughter and you when
Depending on Government and BSA guidance, this
we revert to mixed-age houses; for example, if last
change to single-age boarding houses may need to
year your daughter was in Kenelm L5, Mrs Barnes
operate for the entire Michaelmas term, although it
would have been her HM. In September she will
SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Year group
Boarding house
Name of HM
HM contact details
U6
Mulliner
Mrs Barnes-Evans
c.barnesevans@sherborne.com
L6
Reader Harris
Mr & Mrs Hammond
j.hammond@sherborne.com s.hammond@sherborne.com
U5 (DH, WD)
Dun Holme
Mr Gent
r.gent@sherborne.com
U5 (K, AE, RH)
Kenelm
Mrs Barnes
f.barnes@sherborne.com
M5
Aldhelmsted East
Mrs Miller
d.miller@sherborne.com
L5
Wingfield Digby
Mrs Scott
k.scott@sherborne.com
L4 and U4
Aldhelmsted West
Mrs Jamieson
e.jamieson@sherborne.com
move to Aldhelmsted East, where Mrs Miller will act
them in as normal a way as possible. Other non-
as her HM and communicate directly with you, but
resident staff within the boarding house will not be
also liaise with Mrs Barnes to ensure she is kept up
permitted to enter the house without express
to date with your daughter’s wellbeing, academic
permission from the Health and Safety Advisor and
progress and general pastoral matters. When we
then only if they remain socially distanced from the
revert to mixed-age houses, your daughter will
pupils. Non-resident Matrons will only work in one
return to Kenelm and to Mrs Barnes as her HM.
boarding house.
Throughout the period that single-age houses operate, Mrs Barnes will also meet regularly with your daughter and all ‘Kenelm’ girls to ensure they feel as normal a sense of house spirit as possible.
Tutors Although single-age houses will operate from September your daughter will continue to be
The rationale behind the decision to move girls to
tutored by a member of staff from her original
single age-group houses is to allow each year
house. For example, if your daughter was in U5 in
group to be considered as a ‘household’. With each
Dun Holme last year, she continues to be tutored by
boarding house at Sherborne Girls having its own
a member of staff in Dun Holme, despite being
kitchen and dining room, creating a year group
accommodated in Reader Harris. This will ensure
household will enable us to treat all the girls in that
continuity of care for your daughter and ease of
house as a discrete bubble.
transition when we are able to revert to mixed-age
Resident staff and non-resident Matrons within each
Wherever possible tutorials will take place in
houses. This applies to Boarders and Day Girls. boarding house will oversee the pastoral wellbeing
person, albeit socially distanced, although on
of the girls in their care and be able to interact with
occasion they may need to run remotely via Teams.
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
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Social distancing in and between boarding houses Several measures will be introduced in the
two sittings to allow a form of social distancing
boarding houses whilst SGR1 is in place to ensure
whilst supporting girls being with one another.
that we balance the real benefits of pupils remaining socially distanced from each other with
During the period of SGR1, social events and
the tangible advantages pupils gain from being
activities involving the mixing or interaction of girls
able to interact with each other within their houses.
from different houses will not take place and girls
For example, instead of girls being able to sit in a
will not be permitted to visit one another’s
social area for two hours in the evening, they may
boarding houses with the exceptions of siblings.
need to break after 45 minutes and reconvene later. Resident House Tutor Teams will ensure that all girls have sufficient time to socialise and be together,
within the House Welcome videos that will be sent
Will siblings in different years at SG and siblings at Sherborne School be able to meet?
out on Saturday 5 September.
Sisters will be able to meet up with one
albeit in a socially distanced setting in house. These measures will be explained to the girls by their HM
another at SG as will those girls with a brother Modifications will be in place in each of the dining
at Sherborne School. Details of these
rooms to allow girls to sit with and converse with
arrangements will be explained to the girls
each other during mealtimes while reducing the risk
within the General Welcome video that will be
of potential virus transmission if sitting opposite
sent out on Saturday 5 September.
each other. Mealtimes in each house may well have
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Evening leave, weekend leave, town visits and parental visits To reduce the potential risk of the C19 virus being
(Pastoral) DeputyPastoral@sherborne.com and
brought into the School community, girls will not be
she will liaise with you directly to facilitate this.
permitted to leave the School campus for the first three weeks of term, (from their arrival at the start of
One of SG’s real strengths is you, the parent body
the Michaelmas term until exeat on the afternoon
and your support, interest and involvement. It is
of Friday 25 September). This includes the girls not
truly wonderful to watch the girls playing in a sports
being able to visit Town. Any pupil needing to
match on a Saturday afternoon encouraged and
purchase something from Sherborne Town as a
cheered on by large numbers of parents at the
matter of urgency will need to liaise with her
side-lines, or watching a drama production or
Housemistress/Housemaster who will be able to
musical performance where parents, grandparents
organise a safe and sensible solution.
and visitors pop into School for a few hours to see your daughters perform and catch-up with them
We appreciate your support in not arranging
afterwards in Queenie’s Café. In order to keep the
events that would involve your daughter being
School environment as safe as possible we do,
away from School during this period. We
however, need to ask parents not to visit the School
understand, however, that there are occasions
unless a prior appointment has been made through
where this may not be possible, for example,
the Deputy Head (Pastoral), Mrs Jessica Briggs
medical, dental or other key appointments and
DeputyPastoral@sherborne.com. This will help us
family emergencies, in which case you are asked to
manage the movement of people onto the School
contact Mrs Jessica Briggs, the Deputy Head
site and protect the year group bubbles.
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Day Girls, Day Boarders, arrangements and social distancing Day Girls will be as fully integrated in lessons and co-curricular activities as Boarders although they will not be able to visit boarding houses for the duration of SGR1 (at least the first half of the Michaelmas term). This means that we will be unable to accommodate Day Boarding until at least the October half-term, and until then all girls will need to be either Full Boarders or Day pupils. For the duration of SGR1, each year group cohort of Day Girls will be allocated a room within School. If you simply need to drop something off for your
This space will serve as their Form Room and is
daughter once she has returned to School, this can
where they will be registered, where they will have
be done without an appointment via the main
their own study area to work in during the day and
School Office, which is open 08:30-17:30 Monday to
at the end of lessons should they wish to stay a little
Friday, and 08:30-13:00 on a Saturday. If you need to
later, where they can leave their bags and books
deliver something to your daughter out of office
and where they will return in breaks. All meals and
hours, please contact the Duty Caretaker who will
snacks for Day Girls will be served in the Tea Crate
arrange a convenient time and place (07881
and appropriate areas will be provided for them to
580279). Girls can continue to send and receive
change in for PE / sport.
post as normal through the School postal service. The measures regarding parental visits, pupils leaving campus, etc. have not been taken lightly and we are acutely aware that they are unlikely to be popular amongst both the pupil and parent body. Please know, however, that they are essential if we are to ensure your daughters are kept as safe as possible within the School environment. It is our great hope that if these measures are adhered to and the C19 situation in England continues to improve, we will be able to relax some of the measures following the exeat weekend. As outlined in table 1 (page 11), a brief update on this situation will be communicated to parents, guardians and girls on Friday 25 September 2020.
Day Girl registration Day Girls will register each morning with the
member of staff listed opposite and a senior member of staff will also register them at
lunchtime in the Tea Crate. Day Girls will be
able to take part in post-lesson activities
should they wish to, information about which
will be shared with them during the first week
back. Following lessons each day the member of staff listed opposite will register Day Girls
in their year group area. Any pupil wishing to stay later for an activity will agree with the
member of staff what time and where they will
meet to sign out; for example, a M5 day girl
wishing to stay for debating club might agree with Mrs Orton that she will present at her office at 18:00 following the activity.
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Year group
Form room
Form tutor
Form tutor contact details
U6
Fiction Library
Mrs Flo Corran Director of Sixth Form
f.corran@sherborne.com
L6
Beddington old Drama space BG4
Mrs Rachel Allen Assistant Head of Sixth Form
r.allen@sherborne.com
U5
Room tbc by Saturday 5 September
Ms Bex Brown Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
r.brown@sherborne.com
M5
Upper Wescott North (UWN) computer room
Mrs Louise Orton Senior Deputy Head (Academic)
DeputyTL@sherborne.com
L5
N/A all L5 are boarding
N/A
N/A
L4 & U4
Discrete annexe Aldhelmsted West
Mr Richard Barnes
r.barnes@sherborne.com
Boarding status for Day Girls and Day Boarders
Day Girl drop off and collection from School
As previously communicated, we appreciate that
To mitigate further the risk of potential transmission
the changes above may create some logistical
we would ask parents of Day Girls to drop off and
complications for families of Day Girls/Day
pick up their daughters in the Oxley Sports Centre
Boarders. To assist with this, we asked parents of
car park each day rather than coming onto the main
Day Girls or Day Boarders to consider changing
campus. Parents should also not visit any part of the
their daughter’s status to full boarding for the first
School without an appointment as detailed on
half of the Michaelmas term; a significant number
page 17.
have done so. The option to change boarding status for half a term will only apply during this period and fees will be pro-rated accordingly (termly fee details can be found on our website here). Should our half-term review conclude that it is not possible to relax our approach after the October half-term, this option will be extended further, and you will be updated accordingly. If this is something you would like for your daughter but have yet to confirm, please could I ask you to contact the Bursar, Mrs Fiona Clapp bursar@sherborne.com at your earliest convenience as she will be able to advise if this request can be accommodated.
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Social media and wellbeing The Deputy Head (Pastoral) has been working closely with the HMs over the summer to ensure that the pastoral views and concerns of parents are incorporated into our plans for reopening. Considerable time and thought have been given to ensuring that the girls in each of the single-age boarding houses are prevented from being on social media during every spare moment. The HMs and their house teams have been considering quiz nights, house event evenings, outdoor activities for the house and many other events to keep the girls occupied, engaged and happy. We will make extensive use of the School campus and the Oxley Sports Centre to provide opportunities for the girls to be engaged in a multitude of interesting and varied activities both during the evening and at weekends. These activities will span the spectrum of interests and not focus only on exercise, although every girl will also be required to spend time each day outdoors or engaged in some form of exercise to maintain a healthy life balance and provide time to switch off and decompress. The girls’ wellbeing is and continues to be a focal point of all strategic discussions and decisions at SG. In addition to the points previously mentioned regarding social media, evening and weekend activities, leadership and positions of responsibility and, pupil focus groups, we will be increasing the pastoral interaction between girls, their Tutors and key staff (Heads of Year, Year Group HMs, Normal HMs) as well as offering support via our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Supporters and Listeners and our school counsellors. We will continue to monitor each girl and liaise with parents on a regular basis to ensure that her emotional and physical wellbeing are maximised.
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Clothing requirements The return to SG, or arrival as a new pupil to SG in September will undoubtedly present changes and some challenges for the girls. To support them with this and reduce any additional anxiety, for the first three weeks of School the girls will not be required to wear school uniform, although they are very welcome to if they would like to. We do however expect them to return in September with their uniform, ready to be worn from Monday 28 September. Research has yet to establish with certainty how long the C19 virus can remain viable on various clothing materials, however it is thought that clothing tends to absorb and trap pathogens making it harder to contract them through touch. We are, therefore, requiring boarding pupils to return to School in September with three different clothing outfits in addition to School Uniform (four outfits in total) and the usual mufti that girls would return with. The three outfits must be appropriate to be worn in class, such as skirt/trousers/jeans (smart, not ripped)/jumper/blouse/shirt. Each outfit should be brought to School in a clearly marked bag and no item of clothing should form part of more than one of the outfits. No clothing, including sports kit, should be shared between girls. During the Pupil Focus Groups, a number of girls stated they would like to wear their school uniform from the start of term which we are delighted about and will of course support. For those pupils who would like to wear school uniform, this can be done by exchanging it for one of the outfits as shown in the table overleaf.
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The reason for requesting specifically bagged
Day Girls should attend School in an appropriate
clothing units is so that the girls can change their
outfit as shown below.
outfits every day, as shown below, to minimise the risk of potential transmission via clothing of the C19
We would greatly appreciate your assistance in
virus. At the end of the day, girls should hang the
ensuring your daughter returns to School with
outfit they have worn in their wardrobe, to be worn
appropriate clothing that can be worn in class as
three days later.
well as around the school campus. She does not
Girls will be able to wash clothing as normal in their
although she is of course very welcome to do so.
need to bring any additional pairs of shoes with her houses and matrons will be on hand to assist and oversee the washing of bedding and towels. Girls
Normal School requirements apply from the start of
will not be required to wash their outfits each time
term regarding jewellery, shoes, makeup and hair.
they have worn them and the system below has been adopted to facilitate this.
School clothing to be worn until exeat: 14:00 on Friday 25 September Day
Outfit
Monday, Thursday
Appropriate outfit A to be worn, e.g. trousers / skirt (no holes or rips) and a blouse or school uniform if preferred
Tuesday, Friday
Appropriate outfit B to be worn, e.g. trousers and a jumper
Wednesday, Saturday
Appropriate outfit C to be worn, e.g. tracksuit bottoms and a hoody
Sunday
Mufti
School clothing from after exeat – Monday 28 September
22
Day
Outfit
Monday, Thursday
School uniform
Tuesday, Friday
Appropriate outfit A or B to be worn, e.g. skirt / trousers and a blouse / jumper
Wednesday, Saturday
Appropriate outfit C to be worn, e.g. tracksuit bottoms and a hoody
Sunday
Mufti
SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
The Academic Focus Lessons
General
During the period of SGR1, non-specialist classrooms
In addition to the zoning of the School site, new routes
and teaching areas within School will be zoned for use
have been developed across the SG campus which
by each of the year groups. Historically, pupils at
reduce the risk of face-to-face contact with other
Sherborne Girls have changed classroom for each
members of the School community and minimise travel
lesson, which results in considerable movement and
time. These routes will be clearly signed for pupils and
footfall around the School site. Until pupils return to
time will be taken to explain the systems to the girls
their mixed-aged houses, each year group will be
when they return in September. Specific details
taught in their zone with staff moving between lessons.
regarding academic lessons, classroom layout,
This will decrease the movement of people around the
circulation routes etc. will be explained to the girls
School site and also reduce any potential for virus
within the General Welcome video that will be sent out
transmission. These zones will have designated
on Saturday 5 September.
entrance/exit routes, and most will also have their own lavatory facilities. To reduce the time that girls spend in close proximity to
Additional items required for the start of term1
one another, seating will be laid out in advance of
• Bag or rucksack to keep hands free for sanitising
School commencing in September, providing as great a distance between each desk as possible to mitigate the risk of transmission, in line with Government guidance.
when moving around School • Individual equipment such as ruler, protractor, calculator, that might previously have been shared
Wherever feasible, pupils will sit next to other members of their original house year group, to minimise contact across pupils from different houses within the same
in class • Tissues – 3 x small packets (one to be carried in School bag) and a large box to be kept in the
year group. All classrooms and teaching areas have had an audit of
bedroom • 3 x small bottles (50ml) of hand sanitiser for personal
their ventilation systems and hand sanitisers and
use (one to be carried in the School bag). School will
cleaning products will be supplied in every classroom.
also provide hand sanitiser dispensers around the
Pupils will be asked to assist with cleaning surfaces at
campus
the end of lessons as teachers move around the
• A portable charger for your device (Surface, iPad etc.)
campus between classrooms.
• Headphones (ideally with microphone)
Assessment of our plans indicates that we will not need to restrict the curriculum as provided for in Government
• Exercise/Yoga mat (to be used for exercise and activities only)
guidance; that is, we will not stop teaching some
• Water bottle
subjects in order to focus on others.
• 2x washable face covering/mask (for visiting the health centre/attending a medical appointment) • 1x old shirt to be worn as a protective layer over
Specialist lessons Certain subjects, including Science, Food Technology,
clothes in art lessons • Washable cooking apron (for pupils in L4-L5 and those in M5 and U5 studying GCSE Food & Nutrition)
Drama, Music, Art and Design, and PE, will be taught in dedicated rooms which will be outside of the zones referred to above. This is to ensure that the girls’ education is supported in the most effective way whilst also keeping risk to an absolute minimum. With the exception of disposable items listed above, all others need to be clearly named
1
1
With the exception of disposable items listed above, all others need to be clearly named
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The Co-Curricular Focus During the period of SGR1 we intend to run as full, ‘normal’, exciting and varied co-curricular programme as possible given the confines of
Government guidance. At present, specific activities such as choirs, hymn
practices, and some musical ensembles will not be permissible, and certain mixed-year activities may be run through a blended programme with pupils joining remotely and others being physically present, rotating attendance on a regular basis.
Having had time to settle into their new houses and get used to different
routines around School, your daughters will be given information about the range of activities on offer and how they can sign up. Our usual
Activities Fair will be replaced by a virtual process during the first week of term: the girls will be able to watch short videos created by each member
of staff running an activity and sign up with their Head of Year having discussed options with their Tutor.
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
27
Whole School gatherings: assembly, School prayers, hymn practice, services
Sport Girls will transition back to sport in a safe and supportive manner
permitted. All girls must
following, for many, five months
therefore return to School with a
operation there will be no whole
without competitive physical
clearly named lacrosse/hockey
School gatherings. Alternative
activity. A flexible sports
stick, tennis racket, exercise mat,
approaches will be adopted for
programme will be offered
water bottle and relevant safety
all events which would ordinarily
incorporating a mixture of
equipment, e.g. shin guards,
involve a gathering of more than
summer sports (athletics,
mouthguards, and goggles.
one boarding house. In
swimming, tennis and cricket)
September, assembly, for
alongside the more traditional
example, will operate on a
winter sports of hockey, lacrosse
Monday morning and be live
and netball.
The Oxley Sports Centre
eStream as was the case last
The delivery of all our sports will
Girls will have sole use of
term. Rather than streaming
be modified in line with the
from the Headmistress’ office,
School’s risk assessment and
For the period that SGR1 is in
streamed to all girls via Planet
assembly will be delivered from
guidance from National
each of the boarding houses/
Governing Bodies (NGB). The
form rooms on rotation,
majority of PE, games and
ensuring social distancing is
exercise will take place outdoors
adhered to. A similar approach
and we have arranged additional
will be followed for School
covered spaces outdoors to
prayers. Hymn practices will be
facilitate this. All Sport and PE
removed until such a point as we
lessons will be undertaken in
are permitted to have large
year group bubbles and there
numbers of individuals singing
will be no mixing of year groups.
together. An additional School
During SGR1, no sports fixtures
prayers will operate during this
with other schools will take
period and take place each
place, however, this will be
week on Fridays.
under regular review and when safe to do so your daughter can look forward to taking part in competitive fixtures.
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Sharing of equipment is not
The Oxley Sports Centre for several days each week
where they can access all
the facilities provided within
a safe and supervised
manner. Following this
period, the Centre will then be deep cleaned before
being opened to members of the public and cleaned
again before its use reverts to the girls. In addition,
regular cleaning throughout the week, regulated access to different areas and one-
way systems throughout the building will ensure that all members, public and SG,
are kept as safe as possible.
SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Music All one-to-one instrumental
also also minimise the sharing of
teaching will begin on Monday
sheet music by using electronic
14 September. This start date is
copies through OneNote. Should
necessary in order to ensure
your daughter or her teacher be
Drama In addition to socially
distanced academic lessons
in line with the School’s
complete timetables and allow
required to self-isolate, lessons
the girls time to settle into their
will transition to remote teaching
new routines and boarding
for the isolation period,
houses at School. Pupils will all
providing that both are well
still be able to access the full 30
enough to undertake the lesson.
operate as normal, with
year. Singing, wind and brass
We are still in the process of
soon as possible. Our School
teaching will continue remotely
determining whether Alexander
via Teams and will be reviewed
Technique lessons will be able to
again at regular intervals
take place during SGR1. String,
according to guidance from the
piano, percussion ensembles and
relevant professional bodies.
bands without vocalists can
Percussion, piano and string
commence from September;
teaching will begin face to face,
however, unfortunately, singing,
lessons during the academic
with a five minute changeover
wind/brass ensembles and
between each lesson to enable a
orchestras are not currently
cleaning routine to be carried out
permitted, but pupils may
in line with what is happening
develop repertoire ready for the
throughout the School, together
moment when they can resume.
plans for reopening,
individual and paired speech and drama lessons will
group sessions resuming as productions this year will
comprise smaller-scale year
group plays and this coming
term’s house drama
competition will be a house
film competition.
with adequate social distancing and ventilation in rooms. We will 29
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Other co-curricular activities, clubs and societies
Leadership opportunities and positions of responsibility
Evening and weekend activities
Instead of our annual Activities
Our HMs, Director of Sport,
variety of activities that will
Fair in September, this year a
Adventure and Leadership and
ensure your daughters have time
virtual process will take place.
Deputy Heads Pastoral and Co-
to switch off from their academic
During the first week of term the
curricular and Planning have
studies and be engaged in a
girls will be able to view short
been working hard to ensure that
range of events. The exact nature
videos in which members of staff
when the girls return in
of these activities will in part be
Staff have been planning a
will provide information about
September they will be provided
determined by the Pupil
the activity they are running and
ample opportunity to take on
Reopening Focus Group that was
will sign up with their Head of
positions of responsibility and
set up following the Pupil Focus
Year for the activities they wish to
leadership. This might involve
Group meetings (see table 1 on
pursue after discussing their
helping to mentor and support
page 11). It is hoped that over
programme with their Tutor. As
younger pupils in other boarding
some weekends whole year
restrictions lift, more can be
houses via Teams calls, run virtual
groups will be able to leave the
offered and year groups will be
activities, help plan and organise
campus for 36-48 hours to
able to mix. We are currently
house-based activities, research
participate in a weekend of fun,
working with Sherborne School
and suggest guest speakers to
team-building challenges, but
to get the CCF up and running at
present to the School, lead a
only if we can ensure the safe
the start of term for those girls
focus group considering evening
travel and accommodation of
who have signed up, although
and weekend activities, etc.
your daughters off site.
Competition
Day Girls will, wherever possible,
Competition is a healthy and
be invited to participate in
natural aspect of school and life
evening and weekend activities
During SGR1, offsite trips, visits
more generally. Under normal
although this might not always
and excursions will not be able to
circumstances, girls at SG would
be possible, or the girls might
take place unless they can
be exposed to competition daily,
need to do so virtually. Form
operate as Year Group Bubble
through inter-house events and
Tutors and HMs will continue to
trips, for example Duke of
challenges, in the classroom,
focus on integrating the Day
Edinburgh Award (DofE)
during social time, whilst playing
Girls as much as possible and
expeditions, or until guidance
sport or engaging with co-
ensuring that they feel fully
regarding social distancing is
curricular activities. These
involved, valued and welcome.
relaxed sufficiently to permit the
aspects of competition will
safe movement of pupils and
continue whilst the girls are in
these will not be joint sessions initially.
Offsite visits and trips
staff. If your daughter is currently
their single-year group houses
enrolled on Bronze (M5) or Silver
and they will regularly be
(U5) DofE she can expect to take
expected to represent their
part in an expedition in the first
‘normal house’ and participate in
few weeks of term and should
a variety of challenges:
return with her adventure and
academic, sporting, musical,
leadership equipment including
creative, reflective, service, etc.
ruck sack, roll mat, sleeping bag,
to demonstrate house spirit and
waterproofs, torch, compass and
loyalty. Our Pupil Reopening
walking boots.
Focus Group will also be involved in suggesting and developing challenges and competitions for the whole pupil body. 31
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
33
Cleaning of the School site and hand sanitisers The number of hand sanitiser dispensers has been increased considerably across all areas of the School site. Girls will be reminded to wash/sanitise hands frequently during the day and particularly when entering/leaving classrooms and before and after meals. Specialist teaching areas will be cleaned between each lesson and zoned classrooms will be cleaned regularly throughout the day. All classrooms and teaching areas have had an audit of their ventilation systems, and hand sanitisers and cleaning products will be supplied in every classroom. Pupils will be asked to assist with cleaning surfaces at the end of lessons as teachers move around the campus between classrooms. Our cleaning team and subject teachers will ensure
Boarding houses will be cleaned at least daily by
that all classroom spaces have been appropriately
our cleaning team with your daughters also being
cleaned and ventilated each day to reduce the
required to clean their personal spaces twice a day
potential risk of transmission.
to help ensure that everything possible is being done to reduce any potential for C19 virus
We will also be taking steps to avoid the sharing of
transmission. All cleaning equipment will be
equipment/items between pupils. Where there is
provided to pupils, along with training to guarantee
no alternative to equipment being shared between
the safe handling of cleaning equipment. The girls’
pupils or passed from teachers to pupils, it will
cleaning will supplement that already undertaken
either be cleaned between uses or left in a
by our cleaning team. Boarding house dining rooms
quarantine area for 72 hours before being re-used.
will be cleaned after each sitting. Your daughter will be required to carry a small personal bottle of hand sanitiser with her School bag.
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Health Centre provision, GP surgery and counselling Sherborne Girls Health Centre will continue to provide the highest level of care for your daughter
Flu vaccination
and will operate 24/7 whilst girls are on campus.
Our Health Centre Manager, Mrs Alexa
The Health Centre has been slightly reconfigured to provide an isolation zone for suspected cases of C19 which can be kept discrete and secure from other areas of the centre. Any girl visiting the Health Centre will be required to wear a face covering and sanitise her hands both before entering and whilst in the centre. Our two School GPs (Dr Middle and Dr Thomas) who are based at The Grove Medical Centre in
Watson will arrange a flu vaccination for any pupil whose parent wishes her to receive
this. An over-whelming majority of girls at
SG are not eligible to receive the flu vaccine
free of charge from the NHS so there will be
a small fee for this. Further information
about this service, including the cost, will be
communicated to all parents and guardians via Sherborne Girls Health Centre shortly after term has begun.
Sherborne, will continue to offer School surgery appointments, with a blended approach (remote appointments or physical face-to-face appointments) being adopted depending on the pupil’s symptoms, pre-existing health conditions and the health team’s professional judgement. Every pupil will be able to request a face-to-face appointment should they wish. Our two School Counsellors will continue to offer sessions throughout the week with a mix of virtual
HPV vaccination Due to schools being closed last term, some
girls who will be entering the L5 (Year 9) in
September were unable to receive the HPV vaccination in May. An update on when
these vaccinations will now take place will
be communicated to all parents and
guardians via Sherborne Girls Health Centre shortly after term has begun.
and face-to-face appointments, with pupil preference being taken into consideration.
35
Suspected cases of COVID-19 (C19) Our Health Centre Nurse Manager, Mrs Alexa Watson, will work closely with our GPs at the Grove Medical Centre in Sherborne to ensure that any suspected case of C19 is treated and cared for appropriately. Any boarding pupil who is tested for C19 will be isolated whilst we await the test result and the pupils in her boarding house will be quarantined in house and participate in lessons remotely. If the test returns a negative result, all pupils will resume lessons as previously. In the unlikely event that the test result is positive, the pupil will be required to return home whilst the rest of her boarding house continue in quarantine until the 14-day period is completed. The above approach will allow us to remove the need for smaller bubbles of pupils to return home at any point that there might be a suspected C19 case in School and ensure continuity of care and teaching for the entire pupil body. In the unlikely
36
event that a pupil were to test positive, the remainder of the house could be quarantined and receive remote teaching from staff for the period in question with minimum disruption to their studies. To maintain our capacity to deal with symptomatic cases, it will always be our preference that any pupil who tests positive for C19 should return home or to a UK guardian for their period of isolation. We appreciate that, for overseas pupils in particular, this might not always be possible. In such cases, we do have capacity for a small number of pupils to isolate in the Health Centre and we have also drawn up contingency plans for the very unlikely event that we have to isolate large numbers of positive cases elsewhere in the school. As in normal circumstances, we will liaise with medical professionals on any occasion where a pupil is unwell. We are fortunate to have a major hospital with excellent facilities in Yeovil, which is fewer than 10 miles from SG.
SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
What if the Government closes schools again? One of Sherborne Girls’ five key aims is to ‘Develop
We have engaged the external consultant who
the Future Generation of Twenty-First Century
worked with our Digital Champions during the
Women’ with the first objective within this aim
initial implementation of our digital strategy in
being to ‘Ensure Every Girl is Comfortable and
September 2019, to return to SG for the whole of
Competent with Digital Technology.’ (See Strategic
next term. He will work with pupils and teachers,
Plan for further detail).
within SGR1 parameters, to develop and refine our
When the Government announced that schools in
technology across the School, and to investigate all
digital offering, to standardise the use of England would close from Friday 20 March 2020,
the ways in which technology can be used to
Sherborne Girls was in a strong position to be able
improve and transform learning. We will also be
to transition almost immediately and seamlessly to
working towards Microsoft Showcase Status next
Remote Schooling. Every member of staff had
year to further prove our commitment to digital
already received considerable training on the use
technology for learning.
of MicrosoftTeams by both internal and external providers, and the girls had been using Teams and
It is our sincere hope that the Government will not
digital technology to varying degrees within their
require schools to close again but if they do, our
various lessons.
staff and pupils are well placed to be able to transition immediately and smoothly to ‘Enhanced
Three weeks into Remote Schooling in early May,
Remote Schooling’ which may, as mentioned by the
our parent body was surveyed and 329 parents
Education Secretary, adopt the format of a blended
(68%) responded to the Remote Schooling
approach whereby, and on rotation, certain year
Questionnaire. This feedback helped us develop
groups remain in School to access physical
further our Remote Schooling offering for the
teaching whilst others access learning remotely via
following seven weeks of term, enabling staff to
Teams.
extend their skills and address the areas where progress could be made.
37
September 2020: What will a SG day look like for a Boarding pupil? In September, boarders will return to a single-age
Compared with previous years, the main
rather than a mixed-age boarding house. They will
differences Boarders are likely to experience during
arrive on Sunday 6 or Monday 7 September,
the temporary period of SGR1 include:
depending upon which year group they are in and whether they are new to Sherborne Girls or not. They will be allocated a room or cubie, as they would have in any other year. The house will be their main base and where they will return to for break, lunch, supper, after lessons and to sleep. All meals will be eaten in their boarding house and this is also where they will do most of their socialising and spend much of their free time. Boarders will receive their lessons either in a yeargroup specific area of the School site or in specialist subject classrooms Boarders will have year group meetings in house or remotely. They will undertake all sport, music, drama and as many co-curricular activities as we are able to offer within their year groups. The Housemistress/Housemaster of their singleage boarding house will be the main point of contact during the period of SGR1, in addition to their Tutor.
• being able to wear home clothes for the first three weeks of term rather than uniform • being socially distanced during lessons, cocurricular activities and sport • a change to the format and range of activities offered • an increased range of year group activities and events • increased opportunities to organise and lead year group events • eating meals in two sittings in house rather than everyone eating at once • restrictions on being able to: - mix as freely with friends and peers around the School site - visit friends in other year groups in other boarding houses - mix with friends on other floors in the same boarding house - go into town, to Budgens or the Co-op.
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
September 2020: What will a SG day look like for a Day pupil? In September, Day Girls will return to a
Compared with previous years, the main
year group form room rather than their previous
differences Day Girls are likely to experience during
mixed-age boarding house. There is no change to
the temporary period of SGR1 are:
the day on which they start term as they will be expected to arrive back on Sunday 6 or Monday 7 September, depending upon which year group they are in and whether they are new to Sherborne Girls or not. Their form room will be their main base, where they will be registered in the morning, return to at break time if they want to, where they will leave their books and school equipment. No other pupils aside from Day Girls in their particular year group will be permitted access to their form room. Day Girls will go to the Tea Crate for all their meals and snacks. Day Girls will receive their lessons with the rest of their year group in their year group specific area of the School site or specialist teaching classrooms. They will undertake all sport, music, drama and as many co-curricular activities as we are able to offer within their year groups. Day Girls will join year group meetings remotely via Teams in the same way as Boarders. The Form Tutor of their Day Girl year group will be the main point of contact during the period of SGR1.
• being registered in a form room rather than the boarding house • being able to wear home clothes for the first three weeks of term rather than uniform • a change to the format and range of activities offered • an increased range of year group activities and events • eating meals in the Tea Crate rather than within the boarding house • in a similar way to Boarders, being socially distanced during lessons, co-curricular activities and sport • restrictions on being able to: - mix as freely with members of their own year group - visit friends in their own year groups in the boarding houses - pop in to see friends in other year groups in boarding house - go into town, Budgens or the Co-op during the school day.
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Contact Details If you have anything you would like to discuss prior to the start of term regarding your daughter’s return to School, please do not hesitate to contact the following staff: • Queries regarding the boarding houses and pastoral matters should be sent to the Deputy Head (Pastoral), Mrs Jessica Briggs: DeputyPastoral@Sherborne.com • Queries regarding the academic matters including lesson arrangements, subject questions etc. should go to the Senior Deputy Head (Academic), Mrs Louise Orton: DeputyTL@Sherborne.com • Queries regarding the co-curricular programme, including drama, music, sport and all activities, should go to the Deputy Head (Co-Curricular and Planning), Mr Ian McClary: DeputyCocurricular@Sherborne.com • Queries regarding the Quarantine Programme, should go to the Acting Deputy (Pastoral), Mr Jon Hammond: j.hammond@sherborne.com • Queries regarding any health matters should go to the Nurse Manager, Mrs Alexa Watson: health@sherborne.com • Queries regarding fees, boarding status or other financial matters should go to the Bursar: bursar@sherborne.com • Specific house based queries should be sent to the relevant HM whose contact details can be found on page 13 and 19 • If you are not sure who to address you query to, please do not hesitate to contact me at Headmistress@sherborne.com and I will direct your query to the most appropriate member of the Senior Leadership Team. 40
SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
Parent Contact Details To ensure that the contact information we hold for you on our school database iSAMS is correct and up to date, we would be grateful if you could please check your details using this secure link to the Parent Portal. You can update your phone number and/or email address yourself on the Parent Portal under Communication/My Contact Information, clicking ‘Edit’ to the right of the page. If, however, your home address or any other personal information requires changes please complete the ‘Change Request Form’ at the + sign at the top of the page, and the information will go directly to the School Office to be updated.
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SHERBORNE GIRLS - RETURNING SAFELY
While we regret the necessity of having to put all these measures in place, we will keep them under constant review with the aim of relaxing them as soon as Government and other experts advise us that it is safe to do so. It will continue to be a formative time for the girls next term, but we know that they will make the very most of the opportunities it will bring, as well as rise with characteristic SG spirit to its challenges. We are very grateful for all the support that you as parents and guardians have already given the girls during this period. While we recognise that not all the measures that have been put in place will be popular, our overriding focus throughout this planning process has been your daughters’ safety, wellbeing, happiness and holistic educational experience. We ask for your continued support, reassurance and encouragement, and hope that the girls can start to feel excited about their return to School and seeing their friends and teachers. We are very much looking forward to welcoming them back.
Sherborne Girls Bradford Road Sherborne Dorset DT9 3QN, UK T: +44 (0)1935 812245 E: office@sherborne.com www.sherborne.com