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About Consilium

Consilium Academies is a multi-academy Trust working across the North of England. It has nine academy schools located in Yorkshire, the North West, and the North East. Consilium is dedicated to enriching lives and inspiring ambitions for both students and colleagues.

Letter to Parents/Carers 9/12/2020

Dear Parents and Carers

Yesterday, the Government announced that where possible, schools should make Friday 18th December a non-teaching day to allow for a reasonable period of six-days following the end of term for schools to conducting contact tracing.

In the announcement, the following arrangements for positive cases in the holidays were given:

  • Where a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, the school should not be contacted. Parents and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace.
  • For the first 6 days after teaching ends, if a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious while in school.
  • School staff are not asked to remain on-call or conduct any contact tracing more than 6 days after the final day of teaching. Where a schools last teaching day is on Thursday 17 December, there should be no pupil contact tracing asks beyond Wednesday 23 December.

Following this announcement by the Government, I would like to send you an update regarding our position.

It is mandatory for us as to look objectively at the details of the announcement and make the most responsible and sensible decision given the circumstances. 

Since the announcement, the Consilium Trust, which we are part of, has engaged with its Headteachers and Directors of Education collectively to consider the most appropriate response for our schools. On the basis of these discussions, we have agreed that all schools will close at the end of Thursday 17th December, which will continue to be a full day. It is imperative that your child continues to attend school up to this date.

This decision has not been taken lightly and we know the short time-scales of making adjustments for this is not ideal, but we hope you understand why this decision has been made. We want to put your child and our staff in the best possible position for this festive break, align with Government guidance, and ensure we are all safe to return in January.

Please know that any teaching lost on Friday 18th December will be made up for next term with an additional teaching day being added. 

We have all faced many challenges this year and we continue to face them as we reach the end of term. However, it is important to reflect on the significant achievements, and successes we have all had this year too. I want to thank you for your continued support and dedication in helping us to provide the best educational experience for your child. 

I want to take the time to wish you a safe and happy festive period and look forward to welcoming you all back in the new year.

Yours sincerely

Allie Denholm

Headteacher