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Latest News
Published on 17.06.2021We will keep this page updated with latest developments regarding Coronavirus, please check back regularly.
STUDENT LINKS: Support | Google Classroom | Password Reset – 01932506935
Update 1 September 2021
COVID-19: Arrangements at Brooklands College for the Autumn Term
Welcome to a new Academic Year at Brooklands and one that we hope will have minimal disruption from COVID-19.
Over the past 18 months, the College has implemented the frequently changing rules, initiatives and working practices, required by the Department for Education to keep our staff and students safe. At various points along that journey that has included teaching almost all of our students remotely via streamed lessons, creating student bubbles, restricting movement across campus and implementing distancing arrangements to minimise contact. We have maintained enhanced cleaning and natural ventilation protocols, provided sanitising gel and wipes and also required face coverings in common areas. Not least of our efforts was the roll out of our on-campus lateral flow testing in early part of 2021, an offer that has been mirrored for every returning and new student for this new Autumn Term.
As you will be aware the government eased most of its COVID-19 related rules on the 19th July and since the 16th August self-isolation for close contacts of those testing positive has only been required for those who are 18 or over and who have not had two COVID vaccinations (with Colleges no longer required to assist with test and trace).
Colleges are still required to “assess risks” from COVID and, where appropriate to settings, adopt good practices and recommendations laid out in government and sector guidance. This change, and the autonomy it affords different settings, has inevitably lead to inconsistent approaches across the sector and some frequently asked questions from students and their families which we will try to answer here.
Update 17th June 2021
COVID Guidelines: Please find these new guudlines provided by Surrey County Council – Read Letter | View Leaflet
Update 10th June 2021
PCR Tests: Although confirmed cases of COVID-19 associated with the College have remained extremely low since the return to on-campus learning, a new recommendation from Public Health England is that any staff or students who are asked by the College or NHS test and trace to self-isolate, because they are “close contacts” of an individual who has been confirmed to have COVID, should seek a PCR test 5 days after their last contact with the individual or on their 5th day of isolation. Up to this point, close contacts have only been asked to seek a PCR test if they subsequently develop symptoms themselves.
Update 17th May 2021
Face Coverings: In line with the governments COVID roadmap, students no longer have to wear face coverings in the common areas of the College. Whether face coverings are required in classes will be the decision of each individual lecturer on a case-by-case basis and we ask you to comply with these instructions unless you are medically exempt. You are free to choose to wear face coverings in all locations and in some vocational subjects your lecturers will inform you that coverings are still required in class where this is a requirement of the equivalent commercial guidance for that sector – eg catering and hair and beauty.
Brooks Restaurant: Our restaurant will reopen on Wednesday, 19th May 2021 to the general public. Customers are advised to adhere to the rule of 6 government guidelines as well as our new health & safety regulations. Find Out More
Update 24th April 2021
As we return to on-site learning for most areas, please note that in-line with Government Guidance, it is strongly recommended that students continue to test for COVID-19 twice a week through lateral flow home testing kits, supplied by the College. These can be collected from the Curriculum Administrators as follows:
- SEND – Front office in the Vickers Building
- Service / Construction – Toni Marsh
- STEM – Karen Griffiths
- Digital- Suzy Vinall
- Apprentices – Ian Carey
- Ashford students can still access tests from the reception team
Update 23rd March 2021
Thank you to everyone who has either taken part in the on-site testing, or has helped in the Testing Centre.
The amazing team of dedicated staff, student and external volunteers have in 9 days completed way over 1,000 tests, testing over 300 students 3 times and approximately 700 students at least once. To facilitate ongoing testing once we have closed down the testing centre, we have already distributed home testing kits to the students who have completed their three supervised tests at Brooklands but as from next week the College will be making available Home Test Kits for all students, regardless of whether you have been able to access our on-site testing regime.
Kits can be collected from Wellington M1 during the following times where you will be able to see an open kit, ask questions and watch an in-person demo if required and also watch the NHS self-testing video on the projector screen:
Collection Times Pre-Easter holidays: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Update 12th March 2021
Sport Student Sam asks questions to Health & Safety Advisor, Lee Holloway about returning to site.
Update 11th March 2021
Update 26th February 2021
Returning to on-site learning for students from the 8th March
Following the Government’s announcement on Monday 22nd February, we are very excited to announce that we are starting the process of returning to on-site learning. After such a difficult start to the year, this is very good news and we look forward to welcoming you all back onto campus.
As part of the return to site, the government has now guided Colleges on the way routine, rapid COVID testing will be deployed to help a safe return to site for all and you will have received an email regarding pre-registering for the opportunity to get tested.
The BC Testing Centre is on campus in the Wellington Building at Weybridge Campus and at the main Ashford Campus, it is manned by trained volunteers and staff.
The Lateral Flow Covid-19 tests are easy to use, and involve taking a swab of your throat and nose, and the results are produced within 30 minutes. If your Lateral Flow Covid-19 test is positive, you and your household must isolate for 10 days.
Steps to coming back
Week commencing 8th March
As part of the COVID testing programme your curriculum area will be contacting you to provide you with a date to come into college during this week to have your first test.
We will continue to deliver lessons online during this week, and you will only be expected to attend college if you are coming in for your test.
Week commencing 15th March
A phased return to on-site and face to face teaching will begin this week at both campuses. This will follow the timetable you were given last term and there will be the opportunity for two further tests on campus.
Any student that is clinically extremely vulnerable should not come back into college, even if vaccinated, and if this applies to you then please speak to your tutor so we can make alternative arrangements for you.
Also, if you experience any COVID-19 symptoms or are feeling unwell, you should not return to site and contact the absence line.
Being on campus in the Spring Term
It will be a welcome sight to see students on the campuses once more and the safety of the college community remains our priority.
Therefore, all safety procedures established last term will still be in place including social distancing where possible, washing hands regularly, enhanced cleaning of facilities and hand sanitisation stations. Additionally, it is now highly recommended to wear face coverings around campus and in classrooms where social distancing is not possible. This is in line with Government guidance to keep everyone protected. Anyone that has an exemption from wearing a face covering must carry an exemption card at all times.
We look forward to welcoming you back and please contact your tutor if you have any concerns.
Please note: SEND & Transition students will be contacted by the curriculum area who will liaise with parents regarding the plans for a return to campus.
Update: 25th February 2021
Following the Government’s announcement on the way routine, rapid COVID testing will be deployed as the education sector gradually reverts back to on-site working and learning, we have contacted all learners and staff with further information and to invite pre-registration for testing at our Testing Centre, based on both Campuses.
To support the roll out of rapid testing, we are recruiting for volunteers to work in our testing centre – would you like to support Brooklands College and the education of our young people? And could spare a few hours per week for the three weeks beginning March 8th? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Anyone* interested in volunteering (the work is managed thoroughly in line with NHS safety guidelines should contact lee.holloway@brooklands.ac.uk for further information.
*Please note: We cannot accept full-time 16-19 students for this work at the present time.
Update: 1st February 2021
Surrey Surge Testing: Information on localised surge testing in parts of Surrey. Includes information on the programme, a map of the programme areas and answers to any questions you may have.
Update: 30th November 2020
We can confirm that a confirmed case of COVID-19 has been recorded by the College today, relating to a student. We have collaborated in full with the Department for Education and Public Health England and have implemented all of the precautionary measures and communications that they have asked us to. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus affecting individuals who have associations with the College to twenty since the virus was first officially recognised by government in early 2020. These figures include all cases across all three of our sites and also remote students with little or no physical presence at any site.
We would reassure all staff, students, parents and guardians that we have already contacted all individuals that DfE and PHE have required to self-isolate as a precautionary measure and that staff or students who have not received a notification are not considered to have had sufficient proximity or duration with the individuals in question or to the locational bubbles they were based in to be at any additional risk of contracting the virus and should continue to attend college.
We would encourage all staff and students to remain vigilant however and to isolate and seek a test if they do start to develop COVID specific symptoms.
Update: 20th November 2020
We can confirm that seven unrelated confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded by the College, relating to both staff members and students spanning the period from mid-October to mid-November. We have collaborated in full with the Department for Education and Public Health England and have implemented all of the precautionary measures and communications that they have asked us to. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus affecting individuals who have associations with the College to seventeen since the virus was first officially recognised by government in early 2020. These figures include all cases across all three of our sites and also remote students with little or no physical presence at any site.
Update: 26th October 2020
We can confirm that there have been two unrelated confirmed cases of COVID-19 relating to a staff and student member of our community and that we collaborated in full with Public Health England on 23.10.2020 and have implemented all of the precautionary measures and communications that it asked us to. These are the fifth and sixth confirmed cases of Coronavirus that have affected individuals who have associations with the College, since the virus was first officially recognised by government in early 2020.
Update: 21st October 2020
We can confirm that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 relating to a staff member of our community and that we collaborated in full with Public Health England on 21.10.2020 and have implemented all of the precautionary measures and communications that it has asked us to. This is the fourth confirmed case of Coronavirus that affects an individual who has an association with the College, since the virus was first officially recognised by government in early 2020.
Update: 19th October 2020
We can confirm that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 relating to a student member of our community and that we collaborated in full with Public Health England on 19.10.2020 and have implemented all of the precautionary measures and communications that it has asked us to. This is the third confirmed case of Coronavirus that affects an individual who has an association with the College, since the virus was first officially recognised by government in early 2020.
Update: 16th October 2020
Brooklands College acknowledges that on Thursday 15th October the Elmbridge district moved into the Government’s new Tier 2 COVID category. Full details of what that means to our neighbouring community can be found here. There are no immediate implications to the College other than requesting that only single household groups now frequent our popular Brooks student training restaurant, however we would use the opportunity to re-emphasise to all of our interested parties the importance of adhering to our College COVID-19 rules including face covering, hand washing and social distancing. We will continue to monitor local news and keep our policies and procedures under ongoing review.
Update: 28th September 2020
We can confirm that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 relating to a student member of our community and that we collaborated in full with Public Health England on 28.09.2020 and have implemented all of the precautionary measures and communications that it has asked us to. This is the first confirmed case of Coronavirus that affects an individual who has an association with the College, since the virus was first officially recognised by government in early 2020.
Update: 7th September 2020
Read our Principal’s Welcome to the new academic year!
Update: 4th September 2020
Elmbridge Borough Council, COVID-19 statement – Click Here to Read
Update: 23rd July 2020
Update for Return to Site in September 2020. Click here to read
Useful links:
LGBTQ+ Support We understand that you may need support through these challenging times, we would like to share some useful organisations for guidance.
- Stonewall
- Outline Surrey
- NHS Mindset Surrey CAMHS
- MindOut
- Mermaids
- Coming Out: Coming Out UK | ITV | The Proud Trust
Looking for guidance? we have found these links which may be helpful
- Autism & Covid-19: How to Support Autistic People During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- How to look after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak
- Mind Matters
- Latest Information & Advice, Public Health England (PHE)
Brooklands College Weybridge Campus
Heath Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8TT
Brooklands College Ashford Campus
Stanwell Road, Ashford TW15 3DU
