We are looking forward to reopening our school and welcoming all pupils and staff back in September 2020. However, as you will be aware from the changes we have all seen in our daily lives, Deer Park will be a little different too! We are, therefore, asking everyone to cooperate and help us establish, follow and embed the new routines required to keep everyone safe.

This year we have chosen to stagger the start of the new school year. This will help us integrate our new and existing pupils into our new way of working.

1. All pupils in Year 7 and Year 11 will return to school on Thursday 3 September 2020. Pupils in Year 7 should arrive for an 8:45am start and pupils in Year 11 for a 9:00am start.
2. Pupils in Years 8, 9 and 10 will then return to school for a 9:00 start on Friday 4 September and join those in Years 7 and 11 on Friday 4 September. Specific letters have been sent to parents of pupils in each year group by email outlining our plans.

All pupils should attend in correct school uniform and ensure they are fully equipped for school as it will not be possible for them to share or borrow pens or pencils from their peers.  This week (week commencing 24 August 2020) government have restated their expectation that all pupils will return to school and that this is explicit in their guidance to schools: ‘school attendance will be mandatory again from the beginning of the autumn term’.

The Friends of Deer Park will be holding a second hand uniform sale at the school on Tuesday 1 September with separate time slots for each Year Group.  Parents are asked to park at the front of the school outside Reception to access the sale at the following times:

• Year 7                                     5.30pm – 6.00pm
• Year 8 and 9                           6.00pm – 6.30pm
• Year 10 and Year 11              6.30pm – 7.00pm.

In line with the guidance we have received, we have worked hard to ensure our pupils can continue with their learning and ‘receive high quality education that enables them to thrive and progress’.

Each year group ‘bubble’ has been allocated an area of the school and, with the exception of any lessons that require specialist classrooms, they will be taught in this area by their different subject teachers who will come to them. This will reduce movement around the school and minimise the number of contacts.  

Arriving at school: Pupils are expected to arrive promptly and ideally not more than 15 minutes before their school day starts.  Parents can drop pupils off at the rear of the school as normal. However, all pupils, including those who arrive on foot, by bike or by bus, should make their way to their home bases following external routes and without entering or crossing other year group ‘bubbles’.  Pupils arriving by bus are expected to follow the procedures set out by Gloucestershire County Council and for public transport ( read more).  We appreciate pupils travelling by bus may arrive a little earlier than their peers.

There will be 5 lessons a day.  These are of varied length to help us accommodate staggered breaks and lunch times which will be shorter in length than they used to be.  However, we have also temporarily allowed 5 minutes movement time between lessons where appropriate.

A summary of the timetable structure for each year group is set out below:

Year 7

This is an interim timetable for the period from September to December 2020 and we will keep our provision under review so that we can respond to any developments accordingly.

Hot food will be available from both the Main Hall and Atrium at lunchtime, with the same choice in both locations.

All pupils will be expected to abide by our school standards and observe the protective measures we have put in place including good respiratory and hand hygiene, appropriate social distancing and staying within their year group ‘bubble’ and designated areas.

All pupils should:

• Wash their hands thoroughly on arrival and at intervals during the school day (we have invested in external hand washing stations for this purpose);
• Use hand sanitiser on entry to their classrooms;
• Wipe down any equipment and the area in which they have worked using the wipes provided;
• Comply with instructions, such as seating plans, and ensure they face the front at all times;
• Maintain appropriate social distancing between themselves (1m) outside the classroom and with all adults in the school (2m);
• Follow the clearly marked routes and designated one-way systems around the school;
• Report any potential COVID-19 related symptoms immediately.

We will be going over these changes and resetting our expectations for the term ahead with all pupils in their first lessons of the new school year.

Pupils should be able to access their individual timetables in Show My Homework from Friday 28 August 2020 but please be aware that these are still subject to change and checking and a final version will be issued at the start of term.

For more detail about the reopening of schools nationally and the expectations on parents regarding attendance, testing and track and trace, we recommend you read the latest government guidance for schools.

Owing to the protective measures we have put in place, parents are discouraged from coming into school unless they have an appointment and are advised to make  contact via telephone or email with the appropriate members of staff.