Covid-19 Updates
The Foundation Executive Team (FET) is closely monitoring the current outbreak of Coronavirus and continues to follow the advice and guidance of Public Health England and the Department of Education.
All updates from the Headmaster and Foundation Executive Team will be posted on this page.
Senior School students and staff are required to test twice a week using the lateral flow tests.
Updates from the The Foundation Executive Team (FET)
Monday 28 February - Update from the Covid-19 taskforce
Throughout the pandemic, we have followed all the advice and guidance that has come from government. In line with the latest guidance, we will no longer be advising staff or students to take twice weekly lateral flow tests. We would, however, ask that until 1 April 2022 if a member of staff or a student believes they have Covid-19 that they remain at home for at least five days, in line with the guidance. It is also no longer advised that staff or students wear face coverings within our buildings. This will be reviewed on 1 April 2022.
The College will, of course, continue to have a Covid outbreak plan in place until our review on 1 April and appropriate communication will take place with relevant staff, students and parents should it be needed.
Due to the latest Covid-19 guidance, Senior School students and staff are no longer required to wear a mask in the classroom or communal areas. However, students and staff can continue to wear them if they would prefer.
Senior School students and staff are still advised to test twice a week at home using lateral flow tests.
Students travelling via TFL services may still be required to wear a mask on those journeys. Please check TFL’s website for further guidance.
Any temporary outbreak measures will continue to be implemented as and when required.
Thursday 20 January - Update from the Junior School
Update from the Head of Junior School
Wednesday 19 January - Update following announcement from the Department of Education
From Thursday 20 January, face coverings are no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors in classrooms.
Pupils, staff and visitors at St Dunstan's may still wear face coverings in the classrooms if they wish.
From Thursday 27 January, face coverings are no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors in communal areas. From Thursday 27 January, staff and pupils should follow wider advice on face coverings outside of school, including on transport to and from school.
Senior School students and staff are still required to test twice a week using the lateral flow tests.
Sunday 16 January - Lateral flow reminder
A reminder that all Senior School students and all staff should continue to test twice a week using the lateral flow tests.
Friday 7 January - Start of Term Arrangements
Tuesday 4 January 2022 - Term dates
We look forward to welcoming all Junior School pupils back to school on Monday 10 January, followed by all Senior School students on Tuesday 11 January.
Tuesday 7 December 2021 - An update from the Headmaster
Year 7 Covid adjustments to the school day
Pre-Prep Covid-secure arrangements
Prep Covid-secure arrangements
Sunday 28 November 2021
Further to the government announcements on the Omicron variant this weekend, we would like to confirm that we will be adhering to the new government guidance that requires all students in Year 7 and above and all staff to wear face coverings in communal areas in schools and on public/school transport. This guidance takes effectfrom Monday 29 November. At this time, students are not required to wear face coverings during lessons but will need to until they take their seats in the Refectory.
Please ensure your child brings a face covering to school and a plastic bag to keep it in when in lessons. Masks must be worn correctly, covering both nose and mouth. If your child is mask exempt, please notify your child's Head of Year.
Junior School pupils are not required to wear face coverings however their teachers will be when in communal areas.
At this time, it is even more important that students in the Senior School continue twice weekly LFD testing. Please ensure your child takes a test tonight or tomorrow morning before coming into school, Test kits for students are available from College Office if you are running low.
Many thanks for your support in keeping the College community safe and let us all hope these enhanced measures have the intended impact.
Friday 1 October 2021
A letter and video from the Head of Lower School, Mrs Davies, has been included in the Parent Bulletin regarding changes to Year 7.
Thursday 2 September 2021
The College continues to follow the advice and guidance of Public Health England. The start of the Michaelmas Term will begin as planned, term dates can be found here.
As per government guidance, school ‘bubbles’ are no longer in operation. We do still expect students to be sensible and cautious in their interactions: they should still be avoiding any direct physical contact with one another and ensuring they wash their hands thoroughly and regularly in the toilets or the external handwashing stations. Students may use Senior School toilet facilities in both the old and new buildings but should not use any marked for Junior School only (and vice versa). Students may bring their own sanitiser although there are also sanitiser and handwashing stations around the site. Cleaning materials for desks are also located in every classroom.
We will be following the government guidance on face coverings for students in secondary schools. As such, adults and students are no longer required to wear face coverings on school premises. Nonetheless, we recognise that many will still wish to wear a face covering by choice all or some of the time and we respect the wishes of students who make this choice. We would ask that all students do bring a clean face covering to school each day in case they find themselves in a situation where they or another person would feel more comfortable wearing a face covering. We would expect students and adults to respect the reasonable wishes of others in this regard.
We will only be offering hybrid teaching for those who are absent if they are shielding or self-isolating. Attendance in school has been mandatory since 8 March 2021, following the Government's decision to reopen schools and remote provision will not be offered to those who are absent for any other reason.
Start of term arrangements can be found in the letters below.
Friday 27 August 2021
Start of Term Arrangements for Junior School
Start of Term Arrangements for Senior School
March 2021 Updates
Friday 26 March - Headmaster's Update
Friday 19 March - Headmaster's Update
Friday 5 March - Headmaster's Update
All other Return to College information has been sent in this week's parent and carers bulletin.
February 2021 Updates
Friday 26 February - Headmaster's Update
NHS Test and Trace: Senior School
Thursday 25 February - Statement from the Headmaster following updates on exams
Announcements made in the last 24 hours regarding assessment expectations and grade calculation for GCSEs and A Levels this summer have provided further levels of complexity that require us to review and clarify further our approach. We invite Year 13 to a seminar for parents and students on Tuesday 2 March at 1800 and Year 11 on Wednesday at 1800, so that we can share our updated thinking. I will lead both seminars, accompanied by Mr Holmes and the relevant Section lead. Links to the Teams meeting will follow in due course.
Monday 22 February - Statement from the Headmaster following the announcement schools will reopen on March 8
The College Leadership Team have now met in response to the latest announcements from the Prime Minister. As we have done throughout this pandemic, we will continue to adhere to government guidance and we therefore look forward to welcoming all pupils back to the College site during the week of Monday 8 March. There will naturally be many more details to follow, some of which will likely appear in this week’s parent bulletin, but for the time being I know that you will all be grateful for what does seem to be a light at the end of a very long tunnel.
Friday 12 February - Headmaster's Update
Friday 5 February - Headmaster's Update
January 2021 Updates
Friday 29 January - Headmaster's Update
Friday 22 January - Headmaster's Update
Friday 15 January - Headmaster's Update
Junior School updates
Weekly update from Miss Whitwood
Update on Remote Learning in the Junior School
Friday 8 January - Headmaster's Update
Wednesday 6 January
A statement following the announcement from the Government on A-Level and GCSE examinations from our Deputy Head Academic, Mr Jonathan Holmes:
'We note the recent announcement from the Secretary of State for Education that A-Level and GCSE examinations will not run this summer, although we await further news from our international examination boards as to their plans, and of course will update students and parents when we know more.
The announcement today will inevitably bring a sense of deep disappointment for our hard-working and dedicated Year 11 and Year 13 students, who have been working hard for many months in the anticipation of formal exams at the end of this year, and as an endorsement of their very great efforts and considerable ability. We look forward to further detail on how A-Level and GCSE grades will be awarded, and we are relieved that the judgement of our teachers will play a central role in this calculation. It is undoubtedly the case that these ensuing months will play a vital role in providing critical data that will ensure these students achieve the excellent grades of which they are capable, and we therefore encourage all our Year 11 and Year 13 students to remain positive and engage fully and proactively with the full remote learning programme until such time as the restrictions are lifted and we can welcome students back on site once again. More details and information regarding mock examinations and other points of data collection will follow to examination classes in due course.'
Tuesday 5 January
Message from Mr Holmes, Deputy Head Academic, for Year 11 and 13.
Message from Mrs Davies, Deputy Head Pastoral, for Senior School.
Message from Mrs Carmichael-Line for Junior School pupils
Monday 4 January - 10.00pm - Update from the Headmaster following the Prime Minister's latest announcement.
With the announcement from the Prime Minister this evening, there will now be no taught lessons on Teams occurring tomorrow, Tuesday 5 January (including in-person teaching in the Nursery), in order to allow all staff the only day they now have to prepare for the extensive period of virtual teaching that is expected of them, and which must now happen from their homes.
We know you will appreciate that this will come with additional logistical challenges for staff and for which they will require this day of preparation. If you are a parent or carer of a vulnerable child, or if you are a critical worker, we will do our best to maintain supervision at school tomorrow for your children but would ask if at all possible that you keep your child at home, until we have the site and teachers ready for the full programme to begin on Wednesday 6 January.
If you do need your child to be supervised at school tomorrow, they must arrive no earlier than 1000 and we require notification of this by 0800 – all notification should be sent to either jsoffice@stdunstans.org.uk or collegeoffice@stdunstans.org.uk. We are sorry for the short notice and timescales we are all having to respond to. We appreciate that some students might require access to the school site in order to collect their learning resources. We will consider this tomorrow and send you notification accordingly.
Monday 4 January
Please see information to download on testing and guidance for Covid-related student absence.
Covid-related student absence - Guidance for Parents and Students
These can also be found in our 'Useful Resources' page.
Saturday 2 January
Reopening of the Junior School - Update from the Head of Junior School