Following careful consideration of all medical advice from the Commonwealth and NSW Government’s Health departments, Scots All Saints developed a strategy for the return of face to face classes from 28 April with those students choosing to stay at home undertaking the same programs, fully supported with remote learning resources. Our goal is to transition all students across the College back to our school by 11 May.
In recognition that every school is different and following the Government directives, as an independent school, Scots All Saints College has taken a collaborative approach to our strategy with the full support of staff, teachers, parents and students. Our focus has been to ensure continuity of education for all students throughout this extremely worrying time.
Our parents were surveyed late in the holidays about our strategy which welcomed all students back from 28 April over a two-week period. There has been overwhelmingly positive confidence from parents in the leadership demonstrated by the College to support our students and families.
On 28 April, 75% of students, Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, attended classes with all teachers providing full face-to-face teaching. Those students still at home continue to be supported with the same work remotely. We expect this percentage to grow to full return by 11 May.
It has been wonderful to have most of students return to our campuses this week. There was a renewed excitement with lots of happy and smiling faces as students reconnected with their friends and teachers.
The school is blessed with a caring and dedicated staff who have worked exceptionally hard to prepare the school for the return of our students. They are an impressive team who have responded quickly to ever-changing circumstances in a most positive way.
As a College, we remain vigilant about following all medical guidelines with hygiene practices well-established, social distancing and encouraging people to stay home if they are unwell. There have been a number of adjustments made, with daily temperature checks now part of the daily routine before starting class.
In most cases, we can exceed the 4 square metre rules for students as Scots All Saints is fortunate to have large open spaces, two separate on-campus boarding centres and a number of facilities to enable students to ‘spread out’ across two large campuses in Bathurst. Our Year 7 and 8 boarders are now enjoying their new home on All Saints Campus which also has the benefit of enabling them to sleep-in and walk to classes in the Middle School.
As a College, we have proven we can be agile yet flexible to be able to alter our school operations in line with the medical advice and any further changing circumstances.
Mr John Weeks, Head of Scots All Saints College
