Please click link below to view our latest Careers Newsletter.

Careers Newsletter

Dear Parent/Carers

I am writing to you today to bring your attention  to an issue that is affecting all schools nationally at the moment.

As a school we have had a number of offensive videos that are defamatory and offensive targeting members of school staff.  They have been posted on the social media platform TikTok.

The TikTok videos include material making highly insulting and unfounded allegations and abuse to staff in the school. These post contravene and breach the TikTok community guidelines but in some cases the comments and videos fall into the category of hate speech and are abusive.

As a result we are investigating each video to identify the perpetrators and get the videos removed.

We are asking for your support in this matter.  Firstly to raise awareness of the current situation we and also the linked issues is that our students are making comments about the videos and some are again derogatory and defamatory towards staff.
Any student found to be making defamatory comments publicly online will be subject to school disciplinary procedures and any student found to be creating defamatory videos will permanently excluded from the school.

At this moment in time I hope that it isn’t Shevington students creating these videos.

I would like to thank you again for your continued support. If you do see any posts of this nature please report to school and TikTok.

Yours Sincerely

Mr J Grant
Headteacher

Dear Parent / Carer

Further to my letter before half term regarding covid outbreak measures. This week I have met with Public Health and we will be continuing with some measures in line with other schools in the borough. Please see below a copy of the letter from Wigan Council which recommends that all students, visitors and staff are encouraged to wear face coverings in communal areas in all schools and colleges in Wigan with immediate effect.
Please note that this does not include during lessons / in classrooms, however students and staff may choose to wear them if they wish.

Over the last term, we have been providing face masks to students free during our outbreak management, however in light of the new guidance and ongoing costs we request that all students come to school with their own face coverings. Please ensure your child has a face mask unless exempt. The safety and well being of our students, staff and the wider community is paramount at all times and we thank you in advance for your support with this.

We would like to thank you for your continued support throughout the time we have implemented our outbreak management. Due to the support of pupils and staff following these measures we have been able to reduce the covid cases in school significantly and the effort of all of us in school is very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Grant
Headteacher

Please click below to view the Letter issued to all schools.

Face-Covering Recommendation- Nov-21 Wigan Council

22nd October 2021

Dear Parent/Carer

I am writing to you to thank you all so much for the support you have given the school this term.   This has been an extremely challenging time for us all and we really appreciate everything you have done over the last 6 weeks to support implementation of the additional Covid measures in school.

The number of Covid cases has reduced over the last few weeks, but we have been advised by Public Health to continue with the additional measures of masks in classrooms and communal areas to at least the end of the first week back after Half Term.

We will have another meeting with Public Health after Half Term and update you with the recommendations at that time.

To continue to support our efforts to reduce the spread of the virus in school can I ask you again to support by continuing to LFT testing your child twice over the holidays and especially on the Sunday night / Monday morning as we return to school.

I have to say the students have been hard working, resilient and absolutely amazing over the last few weeks and have settled well into school.  It has been lovely to see how our new Year 7 have made a great start and have swiftly immersed themselves into school life and learning at Shevington.

The children have been a true credit to all parents, carers and the community.  I am so proud of the Shevington Family and how we continue to work together to get through the continued ups and downs of this global pandemic.

I hope you all have a relaxing time over the Half Term.  We are looking forward to returning in November to a new half term with refreshed enthusiasm and hope for the future.

Yours Sincerely

Mr J Grant

Headteacher

Please click here to upload the letter in PDF format.

Headteachers Update – 22nd October 2021

Please click below to view Wigan Council’s Education Strategy and Excellence in Education strategy 2020 – 2030

Education-Strategy-final-2020-2030

Excellence-in-Education-Strategy

Dear Parent/carers

IMPORTANT – PCR testing

Following public health advice we have been asked to arrange PCR Testing for all students starting Monday 27^th September.  A PCR test will be taken and sent off to a laboratory for testing.  This is an important measure to identify any positive cases within our community and to reduce the spread of transmission.  Any positive cases will be confirmed via school.

If you DO NOT want your child to have a PCR test please complete this form: Please only compete the form if you DO NOT want your child tested

OPT OUT – IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE A PCR TEST

17^th September 2021

Dear Parent/Carers

I am writing today to update you on the current situation in school regarding the rising number of Covid 19 cases in school.

We have been working with Wigan Public Health as we plan a strategy to move forward over the next few weeks.  As a school, we have maintained and implemented a range of measures further than the Government guidance.

In school we have a number of measures in place to reduce risk

• One way systems.
• Direction of stairways
• Ventilation – windows and doors open.
• Regular hand hygiene.
• Enhanced cleaning regime on site.
• Separate year group break and lunch times.

As part of our Outbreak Management Plan 2021 and following recommendations from Wigan Public Health we will be implementing from Monday the 20th September the following temporary additional measures in response to the current outbreak.

Testing in school

• We have been advised to consider onsite testing for identified student groups.
• Further information is to follow as this is yet to be finalised and agreed.
• If you have not consented to testing please click the link and complete the consent form CONSENT FORM

Face Covering

• Face Covering must be worn in communal areas around school and as staff and students move lesson to lesson, lunch, break and as they enter and leave school.
• Visitors / Parents must wear masks when visiting the school.
• Face coverings strategy may be revised for students and staff to wear in classrooms

Other Measures

• The School Open Evening is cancelled and will now be virtual.
• Inter school sporting activities paused until further notice.
• Educational Visits will not happen during this period.
• Parent Attendance to school will be paused until further notice.

We hope that by implementing these additional measures transmission across school is reduced.  I would like to thank you all for your continued support and I will keep you updated over the coming weeks.

Yours Sincerely

Mr J Grant

Headteacher

Please click here for our School contingency Plan School Outbreak Contingency Plan

Click here to upload the Headteachers update in PDF form Headteachers Update 17th September

Please Click here to view a Parent Letter on behalf of Wigan Council Wigan Council Parent Letter

Dear Parents/carers

Up to one in three people who have COVID-19 can spread the virus without knowing. This is because they have no symptoms. To reduce the spread of the virus, we need to identify those individuals. We can do this in school by carrying out tests at home twice every week, 3-4 days apart.

The Government has recently announced that all secondary and college aged students will be offered tests to make the return to school safer for everyone.  Last week we carried out on site testing in all year groups.

Testing students at home

On Friday we handed out home testing kits to all students.  Students will be able to collect additional home test kits from their Head of Year.

We would like them to take their tests before school on Sunday and Wednesday evening.

You will also need to tell the school the result of each test.  Please register results via www.testregister.co.uk using your primary contact email.  Please contact school via [email protected] if you have any issues.

Tests are free of charge. Students will receive a pack of tests in a box with a leaflet on how to take the test and report the results.  Further information is available on the school website https://www.shevingtonhigh.org.uk/symptoms-and-testing/

Taking the test

Students should take the test, before coming into school, twice a week. We will give students a leaflet with instructions on how to do the test with the kit. There is also a useful video to show you how to take the test.

Help and support is available, including instructions in different languages on how to test and report the results and a video showing you how to take the test. There is no need to keep used test equipment after the test result has been reported. You can put it in your normal bin (household waste).

This does not replace symptomatic testing. If you have symptoms, you should self-isolate immediately, book a PCR test and follow national guidelines.

What should you do after the test?

Anyone with a positive test result will need to:

• self-isolate in line with the stay at home guidance
• book a further test (a lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test) to confirm the result, whether the test was done at home, school or college

Whilst awaiting the PCR result, the individual should continue to self-isolate.

If the PCR test is taken within the 2 days following the positive LFD result, and is negative, it overrides the self-test LFD test and your child can return to nursery, childminders, school or college, as long as they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms.

If you are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and 6 months, you will not be required to self-isolate if you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19. Please refer to Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection for more information.

If the result of the test is unclear (void) you should do another test.

A negative result does not guarantee that you are not carrying the virus. So, you should continue to follow social distancing, and other measures to reduce transmission such as regularly washing your hands and observing social distancing.

If you or anyone in your household gets symptoms of the virus you should follow national guidelines on self-isolation and testing.

You need to report each test result 

The result of each test needs to be reported using the NHS Test & Trace self-report website: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.

You will also need to tell the school the result of each test reporting via www.testregister.co.uk

Why take part

Taking part in testing is voluntary and all students will be able to attend school whether they take part in testing or not.

I am strongly encouraging all students to take part. Testing at home will your child and other students to attend school as safely as possible.

Please contact school, if you have any questions or concerns about home testing.

Thank you for your support.

Mr J Grant

Headteacher

_________________________________________________

Some frequently asked questions 

Do I need to give consent?

Students and parents do not give written consent to take part in the home testing programme. Please read the information below on how personal information and test results are shared and the privacy notice.

Once you open the kit you should take and report the results of the tests to NHS Test & Trace and school, regardless of the result (positive, negative, or void).

Can my child take the test themselves?

Students aged 12-17 should do the test themselves with adult supervision. The adult may help the [pupil/student] to take the test if they need support. 

Students aged 11 must be tested by an adult and the adult must report the result. 

Reporting problems or issues with testing

If there is an issue with the test kit, for example something is missing, please report it by calling 119 and please also tell the school.

If an accident or injury happens whilst using the test kit, please seek medical care by calling 111 (or 999 if it is an emergency). Please also report what happened using this website:  https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

What type of tests will be used?

We will be sending home Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests. They are a fast and simple way to test people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, but who may still be spreading the virus.

The tests are easy to use and give results in 30 minutes.

Further information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-lateral-flow-antigen-testing-for-people-without-symptoms

Are LFD tests accurate?

Lateral Flow Devices identify people who are likely to be infectious. These  individuals tend to spread the virus to many people and so identifying them through this test is important.

These tests have been widely and successfully used to detect COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals and are approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The speed and convenience of the tests supports the detection of the virus in asymptomatic individuals, who would not otherwise have got tested.

The tests are highly specific, with low chance of false positives. They are also very sensitive and are able to identify the majority of the most infectious yet asymptomatic individuals. Extensive evaluation has been carried out on the tests and it shows that they are both accurate and sensitive enough to be used in the community for screening and surveillance purposes.

It is important to remember that these tests are only an aid to help stop the spread of the virus and you should continue to follow other guidance such as on wearing face coverings and social distancing.

How are LFD tests different to PCR tests?

There are 2 main types of test to check if you have coronavirus:

• polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests check for the genetic material (RNA) of the virus in the sample – you send the sample for processing at a lab
• lateral flow device (LFD) tests detect proteins called ‘antigens’ produced by the virus

LFD tests give rapid results, in 30 minutes after taking the test.

What does it mean if my child has a positive result?

Anyone with a positive test result will need to:

• self-isolate in line with the stay at home guidance
• book a further test (a lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test) to confirm the result, whether the test was done at home, school or college

Whilst awaiting the PCR result, the individual should continue to self-isolate.

If the PCR test is taken within the 2 days following the positive LFD result, and is negative, it overrides the self-test LFD test and your child can return to nursery, childminders, school or college, as long as they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms.

If you are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and 6 months, you will not be required to self-isolate if you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19. Please refer to Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection for more information.

What does it mean if my child has a negative result?

A negative result does not guarantee that your child is not carrying the virus. So, you should continue to follow measures to reduce transmission such as regularly washing your hands.

What if my child has a void result? 

If the result of the test is unclear (void), they should take another one. If the next test is also void, your child should take a PCR test. You can book a test here. 

All test results need to be reported to both NHS Test & Trace and school.

Do I need to send the test to a lab?

No. The LFDs supplied do not need to be sent to a laboratory to get a result and can give a quick result in around 30 minutes. Guidance on self-testing is contained in the ‘Instructions for Use’ leaflet, which comes with the test kit. There is also a useful video to show you how to take the test here.

How do you report the result?

You can report the result of the test (whether it is positive, negative or void) using this service. You also need to tell the school the test result. You will receive a text or email from NHS Test & Trace confirming that you have reported your test result.

All test results need to be reported to both NHS Test & Trace and school.

Can I or someone else in my household use a test kit sent home from school?

No, however your household members can test themselves twice every week from home. This testing can be accessed through the following channels:

• get a rapid test at work, through workplace testing. Ask your employer for more information
• attend a test site to get tested where you will be able to see how to take the test or pick up tests to do at home (you can find your nearest test site via the postcode checker gov.uk/find-covid-19-lateral-flow-test-siteor check your local council website)
• collect tests to do at home. Find your nearest collection site COVID Test Finder (test-and-trace.nhs.uk)

If these options are not possible, there will be a supply of rapid tests for order online for people who need them the most. More information can be found on www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

How will personal information and test results be shared?

When your child takes a Lateral Flow test, you need to report the result. This is so that their test result can be traced, which means that you need to share some information about your child.

You need to tell NHS Test & Trace:

• your child’s name
• your child’s test result
• the reference number on the test Kit

You will also need to tell your child’s school or college their test result.

Under UK law, your child’s school or college can collect and store test result data because it is in the ‘public interest’. This means that your child’s data helps us to stop the spread of the virus, and to keep your children in school. For example, we will tell your child to self-isolate if they get a positive test result.

Schools and colleges will only share information with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) if the test kits used are found to be faulty. If this happens, DHSC will use our information to contact people who used the faulty tests, so that they can be tested again. This will ensure that testing is accurate and helps keep us all safe.

When you report test results online, you are sharing information with DHSC. They may share the information with your GP, local government, NHS, and Public Health England. This is so that they can offer your family health services and guidance if your child needs to self-isolate. They might also use your child’s data anonymously (without their name or contact information) to research COVID-19, and improve our understanding of the virus. For more information on how personal data is used for testing please see the detailed privacy notice.