We have added three useful guides to our Covid-19 page. They provide information around asymptomatic and symptomatic testing as well as close contact advice.

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Following a number of positive cases of Covid 19 over the weekend at The King Edward VI School we have been in discussion with Public Health teams this afternoon to review our Covid 19 risk assessment and planned provision.
The Public Health team have advised us that we should cancel Year 8 into 9 Transition events planned for this week.

The letter issued to all parents and carers can be read in full here 

I just wanted to take the opportunity to update you following last week’s letter regarding the recent rise in the number of positive cases of Covid-19 since the start of the month.

I am pleased to report that following additional testing only two further cases have been confirmed.

As you are aware, testing is an effective way of finding and isolating any possible new cases and we ask that all students continue to take twice weekly lateral flow tests as requested.

The letter issued to parents/carers on 18 June, can be read in full here

As you are aware the school has seen a significant rise in the number of positive cases of Covid-19 since the start of the month.

In order to understand this rise, and to identify any further cases Northumberland County Council and Public Health England’s North East Health Protection Team have recommended extra precautionary testing for some students in the school. Those who need to be tested have been contacted directly. 

There is no need for concern, and your child will not need to get tested unless they themselves are showing symptoms or have been identified as a close contact of a confirmed positive case.   

The letter can be read in full here

In order to understand this rise, and to identify any further cases Northumberland County Council and Public Health England’s North East Health Protection Team are recommending additional testing of all Year 9 into 10 students.

Testing is an effective way of finding and isolating any possible new cases and we would ask that you book a PCR test for your child as soon as possible. 

You can book a test online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.  Please click on the option stating that you have been told to get a test by your local council, health protection team or healthcare professional. You will be able to book a test at a site which is convenient for you and your family. This includes Merley Croft which will be open on additional days over the weekend and next week.  Alternatively, should you be unable to get to a testing site you can request a test to be sent to your home.

The letter can be read in full here 

We are currently using PSHE time to focus on giving students the facts about Alcohol (Year 9) and Drugs (Year 10). In addition, our Sixth Form and Year 11 students received some input from Sorted, Northumberland’s substance misuse service for young people in registration this week.

Please rest assured that we do not have any intelligence to believe that this is a specific issue to our school. We always prefer to take a preventative approach, where students understand the facts, including the risks and dangers of alcohol and drugs.

Please can we ask that you support us by taking this opportunity to speak with your children about the risks of alcohol and drugs. We are determined that drugs will not come onto our school premises and students know that if they bring them onto site, they will be permanently excluded from our school.

The letter issued to Parents/Carers can be read in full here

I am writing to inform you that we have had seven further positive Covid cases in Year 9 reported to us since my last update earlier in the week. All positive cases are close contacts of the cases earlier this week, most were asymptomatic and have tested positive following the precautionary PCR test taken before they return to school.

I have spoken several times this week with Matt Walker from PHE Northumberland and his team met on Friday to discuss the cases. The team were very happy with all the measures being taken by the school to prevent and contain the virus.

They have also asked us to remind parents about the importance of self isolating and seeking PCR tests if symptomatic about the importance of twice weekly LFD testing and reporting the result.

The letter issued to parents and carers on 6 June, can be read in full here