Tomorrow, Thursday 6 January we will be welcoming all of our students back to College.
Working closely within the guidance provided by both Welsh Government and our local public health team in Swansea, we will be continuing to prioritise face to face teaching as much as possible, whilst taking a positive approach to reducing any transmission of the virus.
Contact groups
For all students we will be returning to the contact group model that we used successfully in 2020.
This means that students will be kept together in contact groups throughout the day for example, different A Levels will remain on different days.
In addition, we will be looking to minimise contact wherever possible within these contact groups – for example, using the full area of the classroom.
Changes in light of vaccinations
There is one important change since autumn 2020.
Due to the increase in vaccinations, any student aged under 18 or who has received both vaccinations will not need to self-isolate if they come into contact with a positive case.
If any student does have symptoms or has tested positive they will need to self-isolate and follow the advice from NHS Test Trace Protect.
Symptoms include:
an elevated temperature
a new, continuous cough
a loss of smell or taste (anosmia)
Face coverings
All students will be required to wear face coverings both within the classroom and in communal spaces unless they are socially distanced or exempt.
For upcoming assessments, face coverings do not need to be worn when social distancing is possible. However, where assessments are being taken in-class, face coverings will need to be worn, again unless students are exempt.
Ventilation, cleaning and testing
We will be following the Guidance for Colleges and the Revised Control Framework, whereby we also focus on ventilation and cleaning.
We will continue to encourage students to wash and sanitise their hands regularly.
We will be encouraging both staff and students to regularly use lateral flow tests (three times a week). These are available from the College libraries at the start and end of the College day.
Of course, this situation could change at any point especially if some of our staff need to self-isolate. If this happens, then we may need to move our teaching to a more blended or online approach.
Catering facilities
For a variety of reasons, catering facilities on campus are likely to be limited. We are encouraging both staff and students to bring in their own lunches/snacks wherever possible.
We are continuing to maintain regular contact with Welsh Government and if there are any further changes – including changes to assessments – we will of course let you know.
If you have any queries, we have a FAQ section on the College website. We are also happy to take any questions and would suggest you email info@gcs.ac.uk
Cofion
Mark Jones, Principal