UPDATE: Latest Advice on COVID-19

Following the announcement from the Government, vocational exams have largely been cancelled for 2021. The awarding bodies for our vocational exams have confirmed that if students do not sit their exams they will not be disadvantaged in terms of achievement.

Grades will therefore be awarded based on teacher assessment. Staff are working to ensure there is robust tracking for the awarding organisations for students’ achievement and progress.

You can still apply to all our courses and Apprenticeships. Applications can be made through our website. Search for the course you are interested in and hit the apply button.

 

The College’s Critical Incident Team has been meeting on a regular basis since February 2020 to put a specific action plan in place relating to COVID-19. We are closely monitoring the advice from the Departments of Education and Public Health England to ensure we are as prepared as possible for different scenarios.

The College have introduced additional measures to ensure the safety of its students, staff and wider community. These include an enhanced cleaning schedule, regular hand sanitising stations, wearing a face coverings in the classroom and around each site, and a one-way system throughout the College.

 

The Government have confirmed that students will be offered testing from the 8^th March. Students will be offered one onsite test when they return to college before moving to at home testing twice a week thereafter. 

 

For more information about testing at the College, please visit thecollege.co.uk/testing

 

 

We are currently working to get as many apprentices started with their employers as possible. We understand that this will be difficult for some have experienced closures. We will be in contact with you directly to discuss next steps but if you have any questions please contact us on 01202 205500

 

 

We are sorry your studies are being disrupted, but wherever possible we are moving to online delivery.  If your course is practically-based we would expect to reinstate any lost teaching once our buildings have been re-opened.  Given the exceptional nature of the current situation we are not in a position to consider individual requests for refunds but we will consider these once our buildings have been re-opened.

 

Alongside measures such an enhanced cleaning schedule, one-way system and regular hand-sanitising stations, we have introduced a fixed seat or work place for our students, where possible. Not only should this further reduce the risk of transmission but it will also be beneficial to our internal track and trace system. Students are also expected to wear face coverings in the classroom and around the sites. 

The College’s Critical Incident team will be closely monitoring the advice from the Department of Education and Public Health England throughout this time, and will review our procedures accordingly.

Since the beginning of the autumn term, we have had a number of confirmed cases of COVID-19. These have been isolated cases and the majority of our students have not been affected.

Our strict processes have meant that we have been able to identify affected student bubbles and trace students and staff who have been in close contact with the individuals, and they have been instructed to self-isolate as a precaution.

We understand that this is a particularly worrying time. We want to reassure you that we are working hard behind the scenes to ensure that all our students continue to receive the best education and College experience.

We are regularly reviewing our policies and closely monitoring the advice from the Department of Education and Public Health England.

Public Health England have produced the following letter for schools and colleges to distribute to parents which explains when a person requires COVID-19 test and what the symptoms are.

We will continue to keep you updated on the latest developments moving forward.

 

Yes, it is vitally important that students and staff continue to let us know if they test positive for COVID-19.

 

You can contact the College by using the COVID-19 response line on 01202 205111 or you can use this form here (please note this will take you through to myBPC) 

If you develop any symptoms of COVID-19 then you should get tested. Tests can be booked online through the NHS website www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or ordered by telephone via NHS119. 
 

 

With effect from Tuesday 5^th January, students should not be attending placement. This does not apply to Apprenticeships where they employed by their company.

 

When walking around College, students and staff must follow the one-way system that has been put in place. The only exception to this is if you need to access the bathroom during lesson times, when the corridors are quiet, in which case your lecturer may grant you permission to go there and back on the same corridor. 

 

Students and staff will be required to wear face coverings inside and outside of the classroom. More information about face coverings can be found further down.

 

Students should ensure that they maintain social distancing with all staff and students who are not in their bubble. 

 

 

Students on our full-time study programmes will be assigned a bubble by their Directors of Learning and Learning Manager. 

 

A bubble is a specified group of other students who you will stay with during your time at College. You will not be required to socially distance within your bubble, although you may wear a face covering if you prefer. It is important that you stay within your bubble at all times and do not mix with students from other bubbles. 

 

The definition of a bubble may vary in different areas of the College. This is because the group sizes and needs of students are different in each area. 
 

We have agreed that from Monday 21^st September 2020 the following arrangements for teaching adults and apprentices should be put in place:

• All adult students & all apprentices should wear a face covering and    maintain a distance of 1m+ in class
• This applies to adults attending part-time classes (eg evening classes) but also to those attending full-time adult programmes eg Access to HE 
• In addition, in practical areas, such as hairdressing, we expect sector rules to be followed at all times
• The only exception is if there is an ‘adult’ ie 19+ student in a full-time class with 16-18 year olds, then they are treated as part of the ‘bubble’ and would not need to wear a face covering
   

When walking around College and in the classroom, students and staff will be expected to wear face coverings. You should bring your own face covering to College, however, an emergency supply will be available at College entrances. 

 

Students can also purchase reusable face coverings from reception. 

 

We understand that some people will not be able to/ are exempt from wearing face coverings and we have a discreet way of identifying these individuals to safeguard them from being challenged by the way of a lanyard. 
 

The College has instated an enhanced cleaning schedule to help prevent the risk of COVID-19. In addition, hand sanitiser has been placed at all entrances and must be used by anyone entering the building. 

 

Hand sanitiser will also be available in all classrooms, which students will be asked to use at the start of each session. Furthermore, viricidal cleaning products will be placed in all classrooms so students can wipe down their workspace (computers, table, equipment etc.) at the start and end of each session. 
 

 

If you have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable, you will  have received a letter from the NHS or from your GP telling you this and advising you of whether you are required to shield.  We strongly encourage you to follow the government guidance and reccomendations from your health professional. 

 

The college is delighted to have received additional funding which will enable us to offer extra support for students aged 16 to 19 on full-time courses that have had their learning disrupted in 2019 to 2020 academic year. The sessions are being delivered in English, maths, and other key vocational subjects. A key focus is also those subjects that could not be centre assessed due to the need to provide vocational competence and where assessment has been deferred because of lockdown.

This fund will support those students that have not achieved grade 4 or above in GCSE maths or English by age 16. We are also providing additional tuition supporting the needs of students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), again where they have experienced additional disruption to learning as a result of their specific needs and disabilities.

Read our Additional funding statement

From the 8^th March you will be able to borrow books and resources from the Learning Environment by the Click and Collect service. To use this service you need to download the free library app, MyCirqa, which will help you make the most of our services.

The Click and Collect service will be open at both North Road and Lansdowne campuses, all current reservations have been held, please advice if they are no longer required lrcstaff@bpc.ac.uk

Hours of Click and Collect will be:

Monday – Thursday

• 8.30-11.00
• 12.15-13.15
• 14.45-17.00

Friday

• 8.30-11.00
• 12.15-13.15
• 14.45-16.00

All current loans have been renewed until 8^th April 2021 and no fines should be incurred in this period of closure. Late fines will be chargeable from the 8^th April 2021.

If you don’t have digital access, or if you find it difficult to study from home why not book a space by emailing LRCstaff@bpc.ac.uk and make your study time really count! You will need to bring your own USB headset or mobile phone headset so that you can access audio content. Spaces are limited so will be on a first come basis and must be booked in advanced by email.

The Learning Environment staff remain contactable on 01202 205803 or by email LRCStaff@bpc.ac.uk