Stroud School to welcome back more pupils

Stroud School is making plans to welcome back more of its pupils next week before the term draws to a close.

At the discretion of the Headmaster and governors at Stroud School, Romsey, the school has invited pupils back from years 2, 5 and 7, in addition to the groups currently prioritised by the government. It has chosen these groups based on the proximity of secondary school entrance examinations and the key transition points of the school. Although this will be a disappointment to pupils from other year groups, it is their intention to give all pupils the chance to return to school before the end of the academic year and will add further year groups as soon as they are able.

The announcement from the Education Secretary last week offered Head Teachers the flexibility to continue with the process of re-opening, based on the discretion of the leadership teams.

Additional marquees and portable toilets, as well as outdoor handwashing facilities and hygiene stations have been placed in all working spaces; including sanitiser, alcohol wipes, gloves and PPE equipment for staff if required. Temperature screening on arrival continues daily, with tolerances set lower than the recommended 37.8 degrees. These measures are in excess of those recommended by Public Health England, but the school feels that it is part of its responsibility to help all members of the school community feel more confident about the return.

Some pupils will be unable to return due to health concerns and/or wider concerns within the family and the school will additionally continue with the remote learning programme.

Mr Joel Worrall, Headmaster, says “This does feel like the ‘beginning of the end’ of restrictive measures, but we are aware that the virus is not yet a thing of the past. Our duty of care to the staff and the pupils remains the absolute priority, which is why we have chosen to continue with a phased re-opening rather than a mass return.”

September places are now available including final places in Reception and Year 3. To find out more about life at Stroud please contact Julia Harrington at registrar@stroud-kes.org.uk.