Coronavirus Information
This page will be updated with any changes to the usual school routine. To receive urgent updates, please ensure we have your correct email address via INSIGHT.
Any important letters can be found at the bottom of this page
BWS Remote Learning System Status
- Insight Parent/Student Portal - Good Service (If you get an error uploading evidence files, check you don't have characters like , & * @ in the filename)
- Staff Remote Desktop - Good Service
- Student Remote Desktop - Good Service
- New web based Remote Desktop - click here to login - Good Service (Facility to change your password has been added)
- Teams - click here to login - Good Service (username is xxxxx@bws-school.org.uk)
- Email - Good Service
The scheduled upgrade of student home areas has begun with R drives being moved into OneDrive and emails into Outlook. So far Y7 -13 are complete and should now be available in Office 365, Staff files and email are currently being migrated. Updates will be posted here.
An acceptable user guide for Microsoft Teams has been published for all students to read, a copy is available here
For technical enquiries, please email insight@bws.wilts.sch.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you are reporting an error, if possible, please attach a screen shot
Last Updated:-1200 Monday 3rd August
Risk Assessment documents for return to school in September 2020
Last updated - 12:00 Friday 24th July
The following documents outline the return to school and risk assessment documents for September 2020. All parents and students are required to read these documents before returning to school in September.
Weekly Parent Briefing by Dr Smallwood
14:00 Monday 13th July
Each week Dr Smallwood will release a Parent Briefing with news, events, information and extra curriculum links.
The latest edition can be found here:- Weekly Bulletin 13th July 2020
11 Plus Testing - September 2020
12:00 Monday 3rd August
We can now confirm that the 11+ examination will provisionally take place at Bishop Wordsworth's School on Saturday 17th October 2020. Further details will be made available to parents and candidates by the beginning of September 2020 via the BWS Admissions website and also announced via BWS twitter.
Use of face coverings on school transport
08:30 Monday 15th June
Please see the following advice issued by Wiltshire County Council
To help prevent the spread of coronavirus, the government has announced that from Monday 15 June, anyone using public transport will be required to wear a face covering. There will be no requirement for pupils to wear a face covering on school transport organised by Wiltshire Council. However, should pupils wish to wear a face covering it does not need to be of a professional grade and can easily be made at home – examples can be found here www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering
Please also see the DfE information on this below with the information relating to school transport in bold.
5.4 What precautions should my child take when travelling to school?
From 1 June, children in reception, year 1 and year 6 will be able to attend school, in addition to the children of critical workers and vulnerable children who were already attending school.
From 15 June, children in year 10 and 12, and 16 to 19 learners in the first year of their course, will be provided with some face-to-face contact and only a quarter of them will attend at any one time.
This should limit the amount of children travelling to and from school/college to manageable numbers.
When planning your journey to school, particularly if using public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers.
Pupils and parents should do all they can to help make sure they and others can travel safely. This can be done through:
- not leaving home if anyone in their household, has symptoms of coronavirus
- avoiding travelling on public transport, particularly at peak times
- maintaining a two metre distance from others who are not in their household
- ensuring good respiratory hygiene by using the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach
- avoiding touching their face
- washing their hands thoroughly before and after travelling
- wearing a face covering if they need to use public transport
Letter from Education Secretary regarding 2021 exams
15:00 Thursday 2nd July
The Education Secretary has provided further information regarding GCSE, AS and A level exams next year. More detail in this link.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-gcses-as-a-levels-will-be-awarded-in-summer-2020
Important - Letter to Y11 and 13 Parents - Summer 2020 Exam Grades
14:30 Friday 3rd April
As expected, Ofqual have today released further information on how grades will be awarded this academic year following the cancellation of the exams:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-gcses-as-a-levels-will-be-awarded-in-summer-2020
Ofqual’s letter to students can be found here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/877830/Letter_to_students_-_Summer_2020_grading.pdf
Please note: Teachers and BWS staff are not allowed to discuss this process or grades with you, but we will continue to update you where we can.
SDS
Important - Message for all Y12 'AS' Further Maths & Core Maths Candidates
14:15 Tuesday 14th April
We appreciate that this is a stressful and unsettling time for you. We have some guidance for you which we have received from the Examination Boards and Ofqual.
If you have been entered for examinations for Summer 2020 you:
- will be awarded a grade based on centre assessment
- will receive these grades/results in August
- If you are not happy with the grade awarded there will also be an Autumn exam series which you can be entered for.
Teachers cannot discuss these grades, they are confidential.
Please see this useful link which will provide more information - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-level-awarding-summer-2020
Please stay safe and well.
Mrs Jan Glasson
Examinations Officer – Centre No: 66715
jg@bws.wilts.sch.uk
Tel: (01722) 424732
Important Information - 11 Plus Open Days and Online Applications
09:45 Thursday 2nd April
Please note the status of the following events have changed
- Late Entry Exam June 22nd Postponed
- Open session on April 30th Cancelled
- Open afternoons in June TBC
The online 11+ registration will still open as advertised on April 24th and close July 9th
HM Government guidance on keeping children safe from abuse and harm
15:00 Friday 26th June
Advice for parents and carers about the main risks children may be particularly vulnerable to at this time and information about available help and support. Full details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-from-abuse-and-harm
HM Government guidance on keeping children safe online
16:15 Wednesday 1st April
TheDofE have updated their information for parents and carers to include a section on keeping children safe online. It provides links to online resources that will help support parents and carers in keeping their children safe online. Full details can be found in section 6.3 of the guidance for parents and carers on the closure of educational settings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers
Guidance for students during school closure
Updated:- 12:00 Friday 24th July
Office 365
All remote lessons and assignments are now set on Microsoft Teams. All students should have free access to the entire Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint…) via their Teams login that they can download onto their home devices (PC, Mac, ipads, Android etc)
School email
We are currently in the process of migrating all student files and emails to Office 365, this work is scheduled to be completed by 5th August 2020. From September, all student files will be stored only in Office 365 and available 24/7 from home via https://www.office.com
Remote Desktop (Instructions have changed - please read)
The Remote Desktop gives you access to your files saved on the school’s network and to the apps you’ve been using at school, such as Photoshop. As mentioned above, we have managed to increase provision to this so we will be opening access to all years. However, to avoid overloading the system, please do not leave it sitting in the background whilst you are working on something else (unless you need to).
Insight and your school email account can readily be accessed via the school’s website without using the Remote Desktop.
It also makes good sense to start saving work on your home computer or to the cloud so that if there is an issue with the school’s network you can still carry on.
Department of Education - Latest Updates
Useful information and websites:
(Last updated 16:00 Sunday 12th July)
Message from BWS Pastoral Support Officer
I appreciate this is a difficult time with so much uncertainty and with the current extension to the lockdown, you may be struggling to adjust. I am conscious that we are unable to offer face to face support in school, therefore below are some organisations that can offer support during this time:
www.onyourmind.org.uk which lists a variety of organisations pupils/parents can contact for support including:
https://youngminds.org.uk/ which has lots of useful current advice for children and parents about coping with the coronavirus lockdown
www.kooth.com online access to qualified counsellors
www.childline.org.uk
In addition to this with children spending an increasing amount of time indoors online, this might also be useful for parents to review:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/ advice on setting up parental controls and advice about age restrictions for gaming, as well as lots of other useful advice.
I am checking my emails daily, so if you do wish to contact me directly for support during this time, please do not hesitate to contact me on: pastoralsupport@bws.wilts.sch.uk.
Best wishes
Mrs Elizabeth Jacobs
Pastoral Support Officer
(Last updated 08:15 Tuesday 21st April)
Message from Wiltshire School Nursing Service
Dear Parents, Carers and Young People, We are aware that it is a very anxious time and there may be concerns about where to access support in coming weeks with school closures or you needing to self isolate.
As a school nursing service we would like to let you know we are here to support you during this time.
For secondary school age young people:-
- We have set up a confidential telephone drop-in service Monday to Friday 12-2pm. Any young person that would like to call and speak to a qualified nurse on the end of the phone can call 0300 247 0090 Monday to Friday 12-2pm and speak to them.
- We also have our CHAT health text service so you can text a school nurse for advice or support for any health issues or worries, again this is confidential and you don't need to give your name if you don't want to. The number is 07480 635513.
For parents of any school age child:-
- We have duty school nurses available at the end of the phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm should you require any support with your school age child. This is available permanently for all parents to access for advice and support. If you would like support please call one of our nurses through our Single Point of access on 0300 247 0090.
(Last updated 08:00 Friday 20th March)
Sixth Form EPQ Lessons
- Instructions for EPQ work to be completed will be put on Insight, with supporting resources on ProjectQ. Students should continue to check their email regularly and continue writing their project.
- The current project deadlines still apply
(Last updated 7:30 Friday 10th April)
School Shop Summer Opening Times
(Last updated 08:30 Thursday 9th July)
- Please find below details of the summer holiday opening times for the BWS uniform shop which will enable you to purchase any new items that you require. Please note that the shop opening times are for existing pupils only.
- Social distancing measures will be followed during these opening times and parents will be asked to wait at the gate to No. 11 until they are collected by a member of the uniform shop team. Ideally only one parent and one child should visit the shop. I would also be grateful if you could check your current sizes at home before you visit.
- Please contact the shop at shop@bws.wilts.sch.uk if you have any queries. We look forward to welcoming you.
D of E latest information
Teen guide to surviving lockdown
Self Help Apps for Smartphones
BWS Uniform Shop - Summer Opening Times
