We are very pleased to be able to welcome staff and pupils back to the School site from the beginning of the Play Term 2020.

This decision to re-open, in line with Government guidance, has been underpinned by detailed risk assessments and operating procedures which have been shared with pupils, parents and staff.

• The School’s overall risk assessment (behind which sit many specific and departmental risk assessments) may be found here
• The School’s detailed operating procedures are here (staff only).
• Pupils and their parents should read this information carefully (pupils and parents only).

In general, pupils will experience as close to normal a Westminster experience as possible within Year bubbles. Enhanced cleaning, one-way systems and other control measures have been introduced to mitigate the risk of infection. Outside the bubbles, and between staff, social distancing is required at 2m;  where this is not always possible (for example in transit indoors and in confined internal spaces), face coverings will be worn and extra mitigating actions taken. For the time being, visitors are not permitted on site during the School day unless their presence is required for the delivery of education or safe maintenance of the site. Other events, including music and drama productions and Parents’ Evenings, will be hosted using online services such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom until further notice.

We will review these measures every three weeks and more quickly if necessary, and will continue to send regular and targeted information to parents using our usual methods.

Our staff have been working incredibly hard over the summer to develop these protocols in line with changing Government guidance and we are very confident that we are in a position to deliver as full an education as possible in as normal an environment as possible, mindful at all times of the exigencies of health and safety and safeguarding.

We continue to follow the guidelines closely, as provided by the Government and Public Health England, and our Senior Management Team continues to review the broader and School-specific picture on an ongoing basis.

This page was last updated on 3rd September 2020 and we shall update it when we have new information to share and/or we have further guidance from the relevant authorities.

Westminster School’s information about their Return to School can be found here.