Information on OHS’s planning and response during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.
NB: Please note this information is primarily for OHS students, parents/carers and staff.
Welcome to our coronavirus (Covid-19) information pages. Here you can find OHS’ response to the pandemic as well as the answers to frequently asked questions for staff, parents and students, and links to further information, resources and support.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding during this difficult and unsettling time as we work to support our students, colleagues and prospective students and their parents/carers. We are very proud of the way in which the OHS community has come together in these challenging and unprecedented circumstances.
These pages are updated regularly, but please check the Public Health England website for the latest official advice as the situation is changing rapidly.
Leadership and communications
What is OHS doing to plan and keep people informed during the current coronavirus outbreak?
To ensure that OHS can continue to function smoothly for the duration of this crisis, and can emerge from it stronger and more resilient, we have implemented a number of measures in order to continue to provide high quality teaching, whilst ensuring that the health and wellbeing of our students and staff remain at the forefront of our approach.
The school has been closed to students and teaching staff since 16th March 2020, and the school premises have been open for a reduced number of staff where onsite working has been essential for the continued operation of the school.
During this time, we have all adapted to remote working, online teaching and assessment. We have also set up a new governance structure (i.e. remote attendance record, daily staff debriefs etc.) to ensure that we can make well-informed decisions at speed.
This has enabled us to rapidly update our policies and guidance to support staff. We have also brought in a range of measures to support our students so that we could monitor their wellbeing and access to education during the lockdown, as well as help to minimise the impact of the situation on their learning and academic progression.
We have also engaged in an open and transparent manner with staff and parents/carers in order to ascertain the levels of anxiety regarding the pandemic and take the necessary action to reduce it where within our remit to do so. We have also consulted the overall OHS community regarding a possible reopening of the school in the Summer term, against a backdrop of conflicting and unclear messages from the various authorities to schools and parents.
Having consulted both staff and parents/carers, we have taken the decision not to reopen the school premises in the current academic year, and will continue to keep abreast of developments and DFE guidance throughout June, as well as monitor the availability of testing and security measures for all staff and pupils, so that a clear plan may be agreed at the end of the Summer term for the school reopening in its physical form at 2c Northwood Road.
Our focus for now is how we can bring in some face to face interaction where it is safe for both staff and pupils involved in the second half of the Summer term. We have therefore put into place and introduced a measured and phased introduction of outdoor school with the objective of improving the wellbeing of our students as well as maintaining the cohesion and sense of community belonging within the OHS community, all in line with UK Government guidance and with the appropriate checks and balances such as risk assessments to ensure the safety of both our students and staff.
Buildings and logistics
OHS is currently closed to the public and our staff and students are currently working and studying remotely, except for a very small number of locally based staff members who focus on operational matters.
About the virus and taking precautions
What to do if you feel unwell and precautions that you should be taking to avoid spreading the infection?
Guidelines and recommendations
In line with Government guidelines, you must now:
Remember, you must stay at home if you or someone you live with develops a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and / or a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste. If you feel unwell and you think you may have coronavirus, please visit the NHS website.
Please see the Government guidelines and FAQs at www.gov.uk/coronavirus for information about how to protect yourself and others from coronavirus.
See below the Covid-19 Reporting Process diagram:
FAQs
I feel unwell and I think I may have coronavirus, or I have tested positive. What should I do?
– avoid individuals who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with coronavirus, for example, because they have pre-existing medical conditions.
– take extra care in practising social distancing and good hygiene and in watching out for symptoms.
I have recently come into contact with someone with coronavirus or has symptoms. What should I do?
– avoid individuals who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with coronavirus, for example, because they have pre-existing medical conditions.
– take extra care in practising social distancing and good hygiene and in watching out for symptoms
I’m a member of staff and one of my students or one of my colleagues has told me they have coronavirus. What should I do?
If one of your students or a member of staff tells you they have the virus, you should follow these steps.
Contact the affected individual and ask them:
– how they are feeling
– if they need anything
– if they have any pre-existing health conditions (if they are happy to share this information)
– when they were last at school / taking part in outdoor school activities