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Coronavirus Updates

23/03/2021 – Student Home Testing Kits 

We hope you’re settling back into life on campus and enjoying spending time with your teachers and classmates again. It’s great to have you back where we can fully support you to succeed.

We’re working hard to keep you safe, so please remember to wear a face covering wherever you are on campus, keep your distance from others and follow all of the safety reminders in place.

As you know, we’ve been busy testing students and staff on campus since we reopened, to help identify anyone who may be carrying the Covid-19 virus without any symptoms and help stop the spread across our college.

We’re now able to offer students home testing kits. This means you can test yourself quickly and easily at home, twice each week and report your results back to us and the NHS online. To be able to take part in home testing, you’ll need to have completed the consent form. Further information and FAQs are below.

You can download our student letter HERE

What is home testing?

Home testing means you test yourself for Covid-19 and report your results to your college and to the NHS.  Kidderminster College will provide you with a kit which comes with everything you need to do this and a full set of instructions. The kits use Lateral Flow Devices, which give you your results in 30 minutes. Each kit comes with three tests included and once you’ve used these, you can collect a new kit.

How can I collect a home test kit?

Students can collect their home test kits from reception from Thursday 18 March for home testing to commence from 22 March.

If you are taking part in home testing, please read our Privacy Notice here.

Can my family also use the tests?

Test kits provided by Kidderminster College are for your use only and not the remainder of your household. However, other members of your household or support bubble can access tests through a local test collection point, or by ordering a home test kit online.

Find your nearest home test kit collection point.

How do I take the test?

Taking the test yourself at home is really simple to do and should only take a few minutes to complete, but you should wait 30 minutes before reading your results. Instructions will be included in all test kits and you can watch the video below, which guides you through the process.

How do I get my results?

Your test will tell you your result after 30 minutes.

If your result is negative you can continue to attend college, following all of the health and safety guidance in place.

If your result is positive, you and your household will be required to self-isolate following NHS guidance.

What if I have any issues taking the test?

The tests are completely safe to use and you should not have any issues using them at home. If you do have any issues that you feel should be reported (such as multiple void tests or damaged test tubes) you can let us know by contacting  01562 820811. 

What do I do after I receive my result?

After each test you will need to report your results to both the College and the NHS within 24 hours, even if the test was negative or void. This is a really important requirement of the testing programme.

Step One: Report it to the NHS

You can report it online here or by calling the phone number included in your test kit.

Kidderminster College will not be notified when you do this.

Step Two: Report it to College

It is also really important that you let Kidderminster College know your results too. You should do this whether your results are positive, negative, or void. This is something we are required to do and will help us to track cases in our college and let any close contacts know (anonymously), so they can self-isolate.

To do this please use this reporting form.

It might be a good idea to save this link in your phone so you can always access it after you’ve taken a test.

01/03/2021 – English and maths GCSE grades

Fantastic news!

Your maths and English GCSE grades will now be determined by your teacher! They know you best and have seen first-hand all the hard work you’ve been putting in.

It’s not too late to turn it around, attendance is now more important than ever and will be taken into account, any work set by your teacher – make sure you complete it to the best of your ability!

When we get more details about exactly how everything will work, we’ll let you know! 

 

01/03/2021 – Functional Skills, ESOL, Stepping Stones:

Attention all apprentices and adults; please make sure that you are in contact with your tutor as exams will be going ahead as normal and lessons will be starting again in college from Monday 15th March

 

22/02/2021 – College Opening Update

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding the reopening of schools and colleges in March, Kidderminster College is looking forward to welcoming students back onto campus.

We are currently putting plans in place to ensure the safe return of students and we will communicate our reopening plans to students as soon as possible. This page will continue to be updated over the coming days and weeks.

 

15/01/2021 – Remote Education Offer

Please click HERE to see Kidderminster College’s Remote Education Offer

 

07/01/2021 – English and maths

FAO: Maths and English learners,

Despite the fact that face to face lessons have had to move online for the time being it is even more important that you attend all sessions online. This will allow teachers to gain a fair and accurate picture of your progress. We will need to produce evidence to support any judgements we make with regards to your maths and English results for this year.

When we have more information about how the formulation of judgements will take place we will inform you. Attendance is still compulsory and this difficult situation has presented you with a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills to achieve your goals. There is support available for those who need it via your tutors and learner services, contract them immediately if there is a problem.

Full Time students: You are required to attend two online sessions per week, please contact your tutors for more details.

Adult Part Time, Functional Skills and Stepping Stones students: Please make sure you are liaising with your tutor.

Please be mindful of completing additional work set that isn’t covered in digital sessions with tutors.

06/01/2021 – Vocational Exams

Letter from Kidderminster College’s Interim-Principal

Dear student,

Since the government’s announcement to close college campuses from Monday 4th January, Kidderminster College and all other NCG colleges have been closely following the Department for Education and the Awarding Body’s instructions and guidance.

As you may have seen in the media, schools and colleges were informed last night (Tuesday 5 January) that they must decide for themselves whether to go ahead with vocational exams scheduled during the period of national lockdown.

In line with many colleges across the country, we have taken the extremely difficult decision to cancel all exams scheduled, with the exception of those learners who have already taken an exam post-Christmas and have further exams planned across the next few days. Learners in this position should attend all future exams as per their existing exam timetable.

We know how hard you have worked to prepare for these exams and that many of you will be disappointed by this decision however the safety of our staff and students must always be our first concern. While we have made this decision with a heavy heart, it has been made to protect you, your loved ones and colleagues across our college.

Will I have the option to sit my exam at a later date? What will happen with my grade?

No student will be disadvantaged by not sitting exams this January. While a clear process has not yet been agreed between Ofqual and Awarding Organisations, one of the following two scenarios is likely to apply:

• There will be an opportunity or requirement to attend an exam later in the academic year.
• Where no alternative exam date is possible, or if a decision is made to cancel future exams, arrangements will be put in place to ensure a fair assessment is awarded.

I sincerely hope that you understand that this decision has been made with your health and wellbeing in mind and that it provides you with some reassurance.

Best wishes
Cat Draper, Principal

05/01/2021 – Guidance for 2021 Term Start

On Monday 4th January the Prime Minister announced that colleges should pause the majority of face-to-face classroom teaching (until at least Monday 15 February) and move to an online delivery approach.

In response to this announcement, we can confirm that Kidderminster College will now be operating remotely with the exception of learners who fall into the following categories where onsite delivery will continue to be offered.

1.    Students on an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), looked-after children and those who have been identified as vulnerable and could therefore benefit from continued attendance.  

2.    Children of keyworkers where requested.  

3.    A small number of HE students on specific courses who will have the opportunity to take a test or self-isolate for 10 days before returning to campus.

Important Update for Students with BTEC Exams

Exams and Assessments

BTEC exams and other practical assessments that are currently scheduled to take place in January are to go ahead as planned.

In the event of any change, we will communicate this with you.

21/12/2020 – Guidance for 2021 Term Start

Important Update for Students with BTEC Exams

We have heard from Pearson confirming that all BTEC exams will going ahead as usual until stated otherwise. If you do not turn up to your exam this week, you will not be able to resit until the summer.

 

Important Update for Students Returning to Kidderminster College 

The new term will begin for all students on Monday 4 January. For most students, the first week of term will be remote learning.

For students who have exams and external assessments scheduled during the first week of term, these will still go ahead as scheduled. If this affects you, you should still attend at the venue you have been advised, on the day of the exam or assessment.

Students on an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) will be contacted by their tutors with their timetables.

All other students will return to on-campus/blended learning from Monday 18 January as directed by tutors.

Term will commence on Monday 4 January online.

Under the most recent government guidance we are required to ensure that every student has had the opportunity to be tested prior to their return to campus. Whilst this testing will not be compulsory, it is a vital part of ensuring the safety of our campuses.

TESTING ON CAMPUS

Under the new government guidance, there are plans for schools and colleges to offer regular testing to students and staff from January. We are currently working through how this will work at Kidderminster College and we will provide further details about these plans in the new year.

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR STUDENTS

If you, or someone in your household or bubble experiences symptoms, you should not attend campus.

If you develop symptoms you should self-isolate for 10 days before returning to campus and get tested wherever possible. You should not come onto campus until you receive a negative test result or your isolation period has finished.

If someone within your household or support bubble develops symptoms, you should self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms or wait for them to receive a negative test result before returning to campus.

Full guidance on this is available on the NHS website HERE

Please remember to play your part in keeping yourselves and others safe by continuing to follow all of the safety measures we have put in place on campus, including wearing a face covering inside buildings and maintaining a safe distance from others at all times.

11/12/2020

Students:

  • If you have received a positive COVID test result you are to inform the college using the following link https://bit.ly/37lMTBW

Staff:

  • If you receive a positive COVID test result you are to inform college using the following link https://bit.ly/37lMTBW

10/11/2020

Due to a positive Covid case at the West Midlands Sarafai Park Education Centre, the centre will be closed for students immediately until 20th November. This relates specifically to the Animal Care courses based at West Midlands Safari Park Education Centre.

Teaching will continue online, via Teams.

The student affected have been contacted directly to self-isolate, and have been provided with further information via text and email. If you have any concerns, please contact your tutor.

04/09/2020

During the COVID-19 outbreak, staff and students here at Kidderminster College will be required to wear a face covering whilst in communal areas of the buildings. This includes the Learning Resource Centre, Communal rooms, Corridors, Stairs, Reception and Toilets. This is for your safety and the safety of others. By wearing face coverings, we reduce the possibility of catching or passing on the virus.

You may also be asked to wear a face covering in some lessons. Your tutor will explain if this is needed. We believe this is the best way to keep to us all safe during these difficult times and ask that you follow this guidance.

If you have any health concerns regarding wearing a face covering, please discuss this with your tutor.

09/06/2020

Since the government announced that the earliest date for any reopening of colleges would be 15th June, we have been giving a lot of thought to what would be best for our students and our college.  

For most of our students, remote and online working has proved to be very successful, and almost all students who were due to complete a course this year can now be assessed and receive a grade without the need to come back into college.  We will therefore be continuing with the current arrangements for the rest of this term. All results and grades will be determined by the awarding bodies, and we will send them out in August once they are confirmed. 

To read the full letter, please click HERE

THE IMPORTANT INFO

03/04/2020

We have now heard from the official body Ofqual about how your GCSE exam grades in English and maths will be determined, please see our FAQ’s below:-

What is happening about GCSE English & Maths results?

Kidderminster College have released a statement which you can find HERE and which sets out what Ofqual have proposed and how it’s going to be implemented.

Where can I find the Ofqual webpage?

Follow this LINK to the Ofqual website and this LINK to documents they refer to.

Can I contact my teacher about my grades?

It may be tempting to ask your teacher or tutor about your potential grades or about the work that they will be doing to determine them, however you should not do so. They will not be able to discuss this with you, and the grades will be confidential and subject to Ofqual processes and checks before the release date in the summer.

What will my grades be based on?

Your grades will be based on your classroom work and assessments completed since September and your progress reviews to date. They will also be guided by your English or maths tutor, who knows you best and knows how hard you’ve worked. Very specific guidance will be followed by the teachers in this respect to ensure consistency across the country.

Do I have to keep doing my English & maths now?

Yes, your English and maths tutors will continue to be in touch with you, and to set work, up to the point when grades are to be submitted and you should continue to work on your English and maths until this point.

What happens if I'm not happy with my grade when it's released?

Once the grades have been released in the summer anyone unhappy with their result will have the opportunity to appeal. More details about this will follow.

23/02/2020

– Following tonights announcement by the Prime Minister, the College will not open tomorrow until further notice.

Please continue to check back on this page for the latest updates, resources, contact details and FAQ’s.

#TeamKC

Principal’s letter to all our students, their parents and guardians – click here

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We’ve hopefully covered everything you need to know below:-

Is Kidderminster College open?

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister, Kidderminster College will unfortunately remain closed until further notice

I've got an exam scheduled, what should I do?

Currently there are no examinations taking place at the college. We will continue to provide guidance regarding upcoming exams as we are given more information from the examination boards, so hang tight!

How do I stay in touch with my tutors?

Easy peasy, make sure you have access to your college emails and the VLE (kc-vle.kidderminster.ac.uk)

Help! I don’t know my login for VLE/college emails!

Please contact via your personal email kcitservices@kidderminster.ac.uk 

How do I study from home?

If you’re well enough, we’re asking you to continue studying from home.

Our teaching staff will be uploading information to the VLE (kc-vle.kidderminster.ac.uk)and tutors have been preparing ‘online teaching’ formats and lessons.

Your tutor will be in touch with more information.

Check out our Tips & Advice highlights on our insta for some tips on how to work from home.

What will happen to my bursary payments?

Bursary payments will continue under the normal terms. This will not include any travel allowances during college closures.

We’ll continue adding updates to this page, so please check back.

What about my ‘free school meal’?

We are working to provide a payment to cover the cost of your normal meal allowance via your bursary payment.

I need to talk to somebody about counselling

Our counselling services will still be available during any closure of the college. Please email kcstudentservices@kidderminster.ac.uk for more information.

#InThisTogether

I want to talk to somebody about careers, who can I contact?

Our Careers Team are still available, drop them an email at careers@kidderminster.ac.uk 

What will happen with work experience?

Unfortunately, student work experience placements will have to stop until further notice. The Work Experience Team are available if you have any questions, drop them a line via email: work.exp@kidderminster.ac.uk

What are the college doing to ensure our safety?

As a college, #TeamKC have been reminding staff, students and visitors the importance of washing their hands (Sing the Happy Birthday song remember!)

Over the past weeks the college Cleaning Team have been continuing on their deep-cleans of the college, including all classrooms and communal areas – with particular focuses on touch-points, including door handles and work surfaces.

Where can I find further updates from the college about coronavirus?

We encourage all parents to check the Kidderminster College website or our social media channels for further updates.

Students should ensure they have access to their student email account and ‘Office 365’ – so you can access your files remotely.

STAY INFORMED

We’ve answered of the most common FAQ’s about Coronavirus below

What is coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world.

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in December 2019.

What are the precautionary measures I should take?

The recommended steps people should take to protect themselves are the same as those to avoid flu and any other similar respiratory infections. You should maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene and should avoid visiting animal and bird markets or people who are ill with respiratory symptoms.

Below are the World Health Organisation recommendations:

  • Frequently wash your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or warm water and soap
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when sneezing or coughing
  • Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough
  • Seek early medical help if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, and share your travel history with healthcare providers

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

It depends on the virus, but common symptoms include

  • Respiratory symptoms
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties.

You should seek medical attention if you develop a fever, difficulty breathing or a cough within 14 days of visiting impacted areas.

If you have recently been travelling or are concerned you may have symptoms, please use this link to guide you on next steps: NHS 111 coronavirus advice

Call NHS 111 for advice and do not visit your GP in-person without phoning them first and explaining the situation.

Where can I get support if I have concerns about my health?

If you develop symptoms in the UK, stay indoors and avoid contact with others where possible.

Click on this link: NHS 111 Coronavirus advice to check your symptoms and recent travel destinations against current advice. The site will guide you on next steps and their advice should be followed closely:

You can find your nearest GP by using the GP finder on the NHS website, or read information about healthcare in the UK, including how to register with a doctor.

How should I be washing my hands?

Yep.

The NHS have a guide available HERE

The government are recommending everybody washes their hands regularly, with warm water and anti-bacterial soap for 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing ‘happy birthday’ twice)

I’m concerned about coronavirus, and it affecting my mental health, what should I do?

The BBC have produced a great webpage which gives some helpful advice and tips on how to protect your mental health during.  This can be viewed HERE

WE’RE STILL HERE!

Here is an extensive list of all the emails you may require during #TeamKC’s closure.

Our staff will be working from home throughout this period and will respond in due course:-

I've got a question about my application

For all application related questions, please contact our Admissions Team on: admissions@kidderminster.ac.uk 

Are #TeamKC still doing course interviews?

We are! When you apply on our website, you’ll get an email from our Admissions Team to organise a telephone interview. If you’ve got any questions, pop an email to admissions@kidderminster.ac.uk

I've got a question about Careers Advice

Ping an email to our Career’s mailbox and one of our Careers Team will get back to you as soon as possible: careers@kidderminster.ac.uk 

Can I still access counselling?

Of course you can! Give our Student Services team an email on kcstudentservices@kidderminster.ac.uk and they’ll be able to help

I need some information about my bursary

Not a problem, drop Student Services an email on kcstudentservices@kidderminster.ac.uk and they’ll get back to you asap.

Who do I contact about meal allowances?

You’ll need to contact our Student Services team on kcstudentservices@kidderminster.ac.uk

I've got a question about my Apprenticeship

Drop our Apprenticeship Team an email on bat@kidderminster.ac.uk 

I employ an Apprentice from #TeamKC and have a question

Please contact our Apprenticeship Team on bat@kidderminster.ac.uk 

I'm having trouble logging onto my email / VLE

Don’t panic! Email our IT guys from your personal email on kcitservices@kidderminster.ac.uk 

I've got a question about exams

Pop an email to exams@kidderminster.ac.uk

Who I contact about Work Experience?

Drop our Work Experience team an email at work.exp@kidderminster.ac.uk

I've got a question that isn't here!

No worries, contact our Student Services team on kcstudentservices@kidderminster.ac.uk and they’ll be able to help

Below are a list of resources where you can find regular updates regarding Coronavirus

Latest Department for Education information:

You can find the latest updates from the Department of Education here:-

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