A video showing how Ron Dearing UTC staff produced face shields for key workers during the coronavirus pandemic has won an award.

Glenn Jensen, the school’s Senior Assistant Principal (Employer Engagement), and his team manufactured 11,000 face shields for key workers including shop, care home, pharmacy and postal workers while students had to study at home during lockdown.

Working in partnership with local businesses and education leaders, the face shields helped to protect those who were unable to remain at home due to their jobs.

Glenn provided several video updates throughout the project, including one which illustrated how the face shields were made and the technical procedures involved in the process.

 

Now, Glenn has been awarded a Golden Egg Award for Best Technical Work in fun virtual awards organised by Kerrie White, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at the Goodwin Development Trust, a Hull charity which aims to improve quality of life for Hull residents.

Kerrie works with young people to help prepare them for the world of work and encouraged local employers and individuals to submit “How 2 in 2” two-minute videos in which they shared key skills and knowledge.

Her initial aim was to connect young people to the business community, showing them it is innovative, sharing and supportive of youth progression, while inspiring and encouraging them to learn and grow. Due to so many videos submitted, Kerrie organised the Golden Egg Awards to recognise and celebrate the best of the best.

Glenn, who detailed how to make a face shield from acrylic, foam and elastic in his video, said: “It’s amazing to win the award and I feel very humbled that my video was chosen as the winner for its technical aspects.

“It has been fantastic to be able to adapt what we do on a day-to-day basis and turn it into something positive for key workers during the pandemic.

 

“It shows that, using technology, we can still teach new things to new people, even during a time when we weren’t able to see each other in person.”

The awards featured 19 categories, including Best Actor and Actress, Best Location and Best Educational video, and seven of the young people Kerrie works with chose the winners, which were announced via a video on Twitter.

Kerrie said: “Glenn’s entry was really strong and fitted so well with the Best Technical Work category. The work Ron Dearing UTC does is innovative and enlightening and the school’s employer-led model is very powerful. Congratulations to Glenn.”

The phased return of students and staff at Ron Dearing UTC has been hailed a major success.

Year 10 and Year 12 students were welcomed back on June 15 with stringent safety measures in place.

Principal Sarah Pashley said students and staff have adapted safely and positively to enable face-to-face learning, with social distancing, face coverings, temperature checks and hand sanitising procedures in place.

She said: “The first two weeks of the phased return to school have gone phenomenally well. We haven’t had any hitches at all – everyone is adhering to social distancing and wearing face coverings when they should.

 

“The staff are very happy to be back teaching students in person once again and we haven’t had to issue a single cross word or written warning to any students. They have been absolutely brilliant.  It’s been great seeing them again.

“We’re really grateful to our parents/carers who have, yet again, trusted us to look after their sons and daughters, despite worries about the Covid-19 situation.

“We were all slightly apprehensive about coming back and about how it would work, but our Phased Re-opening Plan was meticulously planned and we covered all the bases, so everything has gone incredibly smoothly. It’s amazing how quickly you adapt to the 2m social distancing rule and wearing face coverings.

“We’re looking forward to being able to increase the numbers, as the signals are pointing towards us having many more students back in school from September. This has been a good trial run for our ‘new normal’.

Ron Dearing UTC consulted with the Department for Education, teacher trade unions, staff, the school’s Parent Teacher Association and its Governing Board before welcoming students back.

The school followed comprehensive government guidelines and additional measures insisted upon by the school’s Governing Board, passing its Covid-19 health and safety inspection with flying colours in advance of re-opening.

 

The Ron Dearing UTC team is now planning to welcome new Year 10 and Year 12 students who are due to join the school in September this year to Experience Events next month. New Year 12 students will attend on July 10 and new Year 10 students will attend on either July 13 or 14, with students split between the days to ensure 2m social distancing.

Sarah said: “This is another positive step forward as we can run our planned transition taster days, albeit a month later than originally intended.

“The new students will have tasters of their chosen specialist subjects, including engineering, creative and digital technology qualifications.”

 

Year 10 student Jacob Ilyas, 15, is delighted to be back at school. He said: “Learning is different at the moment because of smaller classes, but I’m happy and I feel safe.”

Fellow Year 10 student Kianne Hall, 15, added: “Learning at home was difficult and I prefer being in a school environment. I feel so much better to be back.”

To read more about the Phased Re-Opening Plan click here.

 

 

Ron Dearing UTC has welcomed students back to school with stringent safety measures in place.

Year 10 and Year 12 students returned under the school’s Phased Re-opening Plan after learning online at home since March.

The safety of students and staff is at the heart of the Phased Re-opening Plan, which was developed following consultation with the Department for Education, teacher trade unions, staff, the school’s Parent Teacher Association and its Governing Board.

Students wear face coverings while adhering to two metre social distancing rules, as well as undergoing a temperature check by a member of staff before entering the building.

 

Principal Sarah Pashley addressed students before their lessons began and outlined the school’s “new normal” arrangements, including wearing face coverings in all areas of the school except offices and classrooms.

Sarah said: “It’s great to welcome our students back. It still feels strange, but over the past couple of months it has been like the Mary Celeste with just 15 students who are vulnerable or children of key workers, so we’re really glad more students are coming back.

“The primary concern is everybody’s health and safety and avoiding the transmission of Covid-19.

“Our students usually behave impeccably anyway and they’ve turned up and done everything that’s been asked of them, and the staff have responded amazingly.

“The students have engaged really well with their online learning, but it can’t replace face-to-face learning, so the sooner we can get the school back to full capacity, the better.”

 

The phased return for Year 10 and 12 students includes a combination of face-to-face teaching sessions and online learning at home. Year 10 students will receive one day per week of face-to-face learning, while Year 12 students will receive one face-to-face session per week of every subject they study.

Students must bring in their own packed lunch and water bottle and they’re provided with a Covid-19 kit, which includes hand sanitiser, tissue packs, wipes and a face covering.

 

Sarah said the school had followed comprehensive Government guidelines and additional measures insisted upon by the school’s Governing Board and had passed its Covid-19 health and safety inspection with flying colours last week.

Year 12 student Carter Lees, 17, who is studying physics, maths and double engineering, said: “It’s great we’re getting back to some sort of normality. I found it quite difficult working from home, so I’m really glad to be back.

“The staff are doing their best for the students, as they always do, and they’re putting our safety first. They’ve done everything they can to make us feel safe.”

Fellow Year 12 student Tegan Green, 17, who is studying maths, art and digital technology, said: “I was nervous, but coming back has been really good and better than I expected. I feel the staff have prepared us well for coming back.”

Jacob Tevenan, 16, who is studying maths, further maths, physics and digital technology in Year 12, said: “I felt quite comfortable learning at home because it helps to build my ability to solve problems by myself. I want to go to university and a lot of that is self-taught, so it was good experience. But it’s good to be back, seeing people and communicating with each other.”

Year 10 student Harrison Hewitt, 15, said: “It’s really good to come back because it will help my education and it’s good to see my friends. I managed OK at home, but I’ll be able to learn a lot easier in school.”

 

Fellow Year 10 student Bradley Noble, 15, who has continued to attend school throughout the lockdown period as his parents are key workers in the care and retail sectors, said: “The whole experience has been very different. It’s nice to have my friends back at school with me.”

Parent Neil Agnew dropped his 15-year-old daughter, Liyah, a Year 10 student, off at Ron Dearing UTC for her first day back and praised staff for their efforts.

He said: “They’ve been brilliant and kept us in the loop all the way. Liyah has had great support whenever she has wanted it and I’m impressed with the way the staff have dealt with everything.

“I’m very confident they’ve done everything they can to make it as safe as possible for our children.”

One of the school’s Founding Partners, RB, and Major Partner Arco, have supported the school with scientific and health and safety advice ahead of re-opening. In addition, Delta Plus and Arco have donated face coverings and hand sanitiser for students and staff.

Sarah said students who have not yet returned can do so at any point until the end of term and parents can call the school on 01482 222299 to arrange this.

To read more about Ron Dearing UTC’s Phased Re-opening Plan, click here.

We have developed an extensive Phased Re-opening Plan for Years 10 and 12, with effect from w/b 15^th June. The safety of staff and parents is our first priority.

This plan has followed consultation with the Department for Education, teacher trade unions, all staff, our Parent Teacher Association and our Governing Board.

Here are the details.

What the government has instructed secondary schools to do

• “Provide some face-to-face support to supplement the remote education (online learning) of Year 10 and Year 12” from 15th June.    
• Limit the numbers of students in school at any one time to “a quarter of the Year 10 and Year 12 cohort” in order to “control the numbers attending school to reduce the risk of increasing transmission”.
• Continue to deliver online learning as “the predominant form of education”.
• Avoid students and staff using public transport during peak travel times.
• Limit class sizes to allow for social distancing – 2m apart.

 

Our priorities

• Maximise the safety of staff and students.
• Reduce transmission of COVID-19.
• Provide a valuable learning experience – not ‘paying lip service’.
• Ensure all subjects are covered during face-to-face learning.

 

Consultation

• Our phased re-opening plan has been carefully put together in consultation with:
  • The Department for Education.
  • Teacher trade unions.
  • All staff.
  • The Parent Teacher Association.
  • The Governing Board.
• Thank you to everyone involved!

 

Year 10

Hours:  10.30am – 3.00pm.

• Maintain existing online learning programme via Teams, including live meetings.
• Introduce weekly in-school learning programme:
  • W/b 15^th June    Options A & B.
  • W/b 22^nd June   English & Maths.
  • W/b 29^th June    Science
  • W/b 6^th July       Option C & English.
  • W/b 13^th July      Reviews
• Divide year group into four groups.
• Ensure class sizes do not exceed 10 students.
• Every student will attend one full day per week.

 

Year 12

Hours:  10.30am – 3.00pm.

• Maintain existing online learning programme via Teams, including live meetings.
• Introduce weekly in-school learning programme:
  • W/b 15th June     A Level subjects.
  • W/b 22nd June   Technical subjects.
  • W/b 29th June    Technical subjects.
  • W/b 6th July       A Level subjects.
  • W/B 13th July     Reviews
• Ensure groups sizes do not exceed 10 students.
• Student attendance per week will vary depending on courses being studied.

 

Strategies in place to minimise risk of transmission

1) Social distancing

• Arrival: Students queue at 2m outside RDUTC – SLT to manage entrance – everyone to adhere to 2m social distance on entrance to building.
• Classrooms set out as follows:
  • Separate seats 2m apart.
  • 10 students max.
  • 2m barricade for teachers – front row of desks.
  • Laptops on desks.
• Breaks to be taken in seats in classrooms.
• Lunch: Classes to be escorted to and from dining areas by SLT – staggered movement time.
• Departure: Classes to be dismissed by SLT – staggered.

 

2) PPE / hygiene

• In addition to handwashing / sanitiser / deep cleaning etc:
  • RDUTC to provide students with a ‘COVID-kit’ to include: hand sanitiser; tissue packs; wipes; pen; pencil; ruler; rubber; calculator.
  • RDUTC to provide students and staff with washable, non-medical face coverings which MUST be worn:
    • On entry to school.
    • When moving around corridor.
    • In dining areas.
    • In classrooms IF the teacher requests it.
    • On public transport to and from school, if relevant.
  • Staff and students to wipe down work areas / keyboards before and after use.
  • Rooms and equipment to be cleaned before and after each lesson.

 

3) Response to symptoms

• Where possible, staff and students to test temperature before setting off for school. If temperature is above 37.5 degrees:
  • Stay at home and self-isolate
  • Call Attendance line to report absence.
• Temperature reader at entrance barriers to screen staff and students. If temperature is above 37.5 degrees:
  • Go to COVID Isolation Room (Reception).
  • Temperature retested after 15 mins.
  • Temperature still above 37.5 degrees:
    • Students: parents contacted to collect.
    • Staff: go home.
• Students displaying symptoms during the day: Call out to alert SLT – face covering on – sent immediately to COVID Isolation Room. Parents contacted to collect.
• Staff displaying symptoms during the day: Mask on – alert SLT for cover – go home.

 

Note to parents and students

• It is essential that all staff and students comply with ALL the strategies in place to protect students and staff and minimise the risk of transmission.
• If students are unable or unwilling to do so, they will NOT be able to return for face-to-face learning for the time-being.
• PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE READ ALL THE GUIDENCE CAREFULLY AND CAN COMPLY.
• Whilst we want as many students as possible to take up the offer of returning to school, we understand that not everyone will feel safe to do so. There will be NO sanctions if students do not attend.

 

Note to parents

• If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 infection you and your son / daughter should self-isolate and must not come into the RDUTC building.
• If you wish to drop-off and / or collect your son / daughter from school by car, you must use the History Centre car park behind RDUTC and remain in your car.
• If you wish to walk with your son / daughter to and from school, you must leave them and pick them up from an area more than 50m from RDUTC.
• You must not gather at entrance doors or the area immediately surrounding RDUTC.
• You must not enter the RDUTC building unless you have a pre-arranged appointment.
• Please phone Reception on 01482 222299 to arrange a meeting.

 

Daily safety checks: Students

Before coming to school each day, please check the following:

• You are not currently suffering from any of the following:
  • A fever (high temperature).
  • Persistent cough.
  • Breathlessness
  • An altered sense of taste / smell.
• No-one in your household is currently suffering from any of the above.
• No-one in your household is currently self-isolating due to local guidance on COVID-19 infection.
• You have no reason to believe that you are at genuine risk of having been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
• No-one in your household has received a positive COVID-19 test result in the past 14 days.

If you are unable to answer ‘yes’ to one or more of the above statements you must NOT come to school.  Please ring the Attendance line on 01482 222299.

 

Next steps

• RDUTC staff to phone ALL parents to see if their son / daughter is returning w/b 15^th June and answer any questions.
• RDUTC to send students’ individual timetables for 15^th June in post and via email.
• Heath and Safety Inspection to be carried out on Friday, 12^th June to test readiness to re-opening.
• RDUTC phased re-opening to start Monday 15^th June PROVIDING:
  • RDUTC passes the Health & Safety Inspection
  • the Department for Education gives final approval for secondary schools to re-open.
• Text and email to be sent home Sunday, 14^th June to parents / students to confirm.