Life @ EA

26 August 2020

Dear Parents,

Well with almost a week already gone into the term it already feels like we are returning to something closer to normal life at what is always a very busy school. Our students have been excellent in the way they have adapted to our new way of doing things and it has been wonderful to see them back in school and enjoying time with their friends. Many thanks to so many of you who have been so accommodating of our changing protocols. Things have changed rapidly and fairly regularly as guidance has evolved and moved in new directions depending on recent medical research. Thank you very much for your understanding as we have adapted to these changes.

It is important to remind all parents that the restrictions are still in place regarding adults on campus and so please do not use the Senior School yards for arrival and pick up. We also have to keep reminding our students about the various entry doors for each Year Group – it is still important that we disperse our students as much as possible and get them into Year Group bubbles as quickly as we can. I know this might require an extra walk or a change of routine but it is a necessity in these strange times. I would also like to remind parents of Geits’ students that Saxe Coburg Place can be a very busy location and to encourage you to make space on pavements for the local residents, do not park in the Residents’ Only parking locations and if possible please do not block access routes to the residents’ houses. Residents along Saxe Coburg Place have already been contacting the school in regard to large groups of adults assembling at the beginning and end of every day. Many thanks for your understanding on these matters.

I would like to highlight one point, clarifying the NHS Lothian advice documents that were shared by the School recently. The Coronovirus Toolkit for Parents has a very useful flow diagram explaining protocols for when children display symptoms of Covid-19. These symptoms are a new continuous cough and/or fever/high temperature and/or a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste. The NHS Lothian document also advises that a child unwell with other respiratory symptoms e.g. runny nose, sore throat, sneezing should then follow the usual policy for sickness at school. I would like to confirm that the usual policy for our students with a runny nose or sneezing is that they CAN ATTEND school should they feel well enough to do so. They should only ‘stay home for at least 48hrs and until fully recovered and free of fever for 48hrs’ should they be too unwell to attend school. Parents are encouraged to apply this ‘rule’ with caution and be confident that they can allow their children to attend if they have a runny nose or pollen-induced sneezing.

The Government’s announcement yesterday regarding face coverings for all senior school students in corridors and communal spaces will clearly bring in a further necessity from Monday, the 31st of August. From Monday, therefore, all Senior School students will be required to carry a face covering with them into school and for it to be worn when in corridors and in large communal spaces. These face coverings will not be required to be worn in classrooms where year group bubbles and physical distancing remain our principal barrier. The new government guidance also explains that all students over the age of five will be expected to use a face covering when on school transport, as they would when using public transport. This would apply, for instance, at times when students take a minibus from New Field to Henderson Row. Students will need their face coverings for such a journey.

Further details about what constitutes a face covering can be found HERE. A face covering can be of any type as long as it covers the nose and mouth. It is recommended that it be made of cloth or other textiles and should be two and preferably three layers thick and through which you can breathe. Who would have thought we would ever come to a day that a school’s message to parents gives them details on what constitutes a face covering?  Looking ahead, therefore, from Monday morning all our Senior School students will require a form of face-covering as they begin their journey to school. It will be an important part of the belongings that they bring to school, as important as pens, pencils, iPads and textbooks.  Please do support the school and all those in our community, by checking on these face-coverings as your sons and daughters leave for school in the morning.

As further parts of the lockdown restrictions are eased (such as the opening of gyms and sports halls next week) we hope to continue to adapt our programmes and activities to align with these new restrictions. We are still very much in the Amber Phase, however, as we cannot yet fully return to normal activities. Future events, such as our Autumn Concert, Division Music and Christmas Service, will obviously be all under review but we will do our best to put on alternatives or delay events as best we can, depending on the medical advice at the time. Thank you so much for your patience on this matter.

I would also like to point out that the Senior School is currently on the search for a new School Nurse to join our team. Details of this vacancy can be found HERE.

With all exam results, including all our SQA and our GCSE and A Level offerings, changing in the last few weeks following Government U-Turns, we are still going through re-coursing, career guidance and the beginnings of the new UCAS process for our 7ths students. My advice here would be to keep talking to the School, and in particular Mr Halsall, Mrs Slavin, Mr Lowe and Mr Patterson, our new Head of Careers, as well as the Pastoral Teams, all of whom are available and willing to help as much as they can. Some things will change in the coming weeks but I am confident we have the expertise and professional knowledge to find interesting and exciting routes forward for all our students.


Kind regards

Barry Welsh
Rector