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New arrangements for students from 8th June 2021

New arrangements for students from 8th June 2021
June 7, 2021 Belinda Gosling

Dear Parent/Carer,

Thank you for your support during all the restrictions in place at school at this challenging time.  There have now been a few developments which mean we can get back to some more usual practices.  As from tomorrow, we are able to have usual start, finish, break and lunchtimes for almost all students and still be within current guidelines for covid-security on site:  

  • Years 8, 9 and 10 will arrive at school to begin the school day at 8.35am with a full tutor time programme to start their day positively;
  •  Years 8, 9 and 10 will finish their school day at the usual time of 3pm;  
  • Sixth Form continue to come into school for their lessons only;
  • Years 9, 10 and Sixth Form will have a the usual break and lunchtimes of 10.10am – 10.30am and 1.05pm – 1.45pm respectively;
  • Years 7 & 8 continue to have a staggered break and lunchtime as they will be sharing spaces that are cleaned in between year group usage;
  • Year 10 will all be moved to the new science area, C Block from now and will receive a new timetable with the room numbers on it (they continue to have the same teachers and subjects, just in a different room);
  • Year 10 will be using the C Block toilets;
  • Year 9 will use G Block toilets;
  • A reminder of the gates to be used, toilet blocks to be used and the canteen space to be used can be found using the link below:

New Student Arrangements 8th June 2021

In addition to this, the changing rooms will be in use again as from Tuesday 8th June.  This is because we are able to use a fogger between changing room usages to fully sanitise the areas.  In accordance with this, all students will be expected to attend school in full school uniform, including blazer, and to bring their PE kit with them to change into on the days they have PE or dance.  Mr Gambrell will be in contact with more PE kit details as the week goes on.

With the weather being agreeable for the remainder of the school year, no hoodies or sweatshirts will be permitted to be worn from Monday 14th June onwards.  It has always been the case that hoodies have been an alternative for some families to a coat and as such should be worn over the top of the blazer and taken off when entering the building.  This rule has not been adhered to and being prepared to belong by proudly wearing the school uniform is not as obvious as it should be.  Furthermore, hoodies and sweatshirts do not offer protection from the rain and so are not effective as an alternative to a coat.  I am letting you know now that a coat will be the standard rule for school uniform, not a hoodie or sweatshirt, as from September, to give you fair time to ensure your child has one.  If you have any difficulty at all in purchasing a coat, please do not hesitate to contact the school as we will support you fully in this.

A further reason for not having hoodies or sweatshirts on site is to avoid our HDHS students being mixed up with some other young people, who are not students of the school, who may be around the Hall Lane area at the end of the school day.  There were a number of such young people on Friday 28th May in Hall Lane who, if not clearly distinguishable from our own students, make it appear that students of our school are behaving poorly.  I do not want our well behaved and respectful students to be confused with these young people.

Thank you for your ongoing support in all of these matters, keeping our school orderly, covid-safe and proud to be a part of HDHS.  If any of them cause you any difficulties or challenges, please do contact us, as there are a number of ways that we can help you.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Finch
Headteacher