Updated 14/05/21 @ 09:00
The Prime Minister has announced that the country’s roadmap out of lockdown is on track and step 3 will go ahead as planned on Monday 17 May. It is therefore not necessary for face coverings to be worn in classrooms. However, the guidance is very clear that face coverings should continue to be worn in areas where it is difficult to maintain social distancing of 2m.
Therefore all staff and students must continue to wear face coverings in all communal areas, when queueing and on all College transport. We will continue to keep this under review.
Updated 26/03/21 @ 16:00
The Secretary of State for Education has today written to all young people to thank them for the part they have all played in helping us fight coronavirus. In the letter, the Secretary of State recognises the significant disruption that children and young people have experienced in their education over the past year and the challenges they have faced as a result. The Secretary of State thanks young people for the resilience they have shown and outlines his commitment to supporting them to recover from the pandemic.
Updated 19/03/21 @11:00
We have been so impressed with how well students have responded to lateral flow testing (LFT) since our return to on-campus teaching and learning on 8 March. Following the government roadmap, and to continue to keep everyone as safe as possible, we will be issuing home testing kits to all students once they have taken their third LFT test in college.
How do you take your test?
Each testing kit will be issued with detailed step-by-step instructions to support the transition to home testing which can also be seen below in video, pdf leaflet , easy read leaflet and here on the gov.uk website – all students should read these instructions before taking their first test at home.
When do you take your test?
Students will need to test themselves twice a week on the evening before their first timetabled day in college. So, for example, if your first timetabled day in college is on Monday you would take your LFT on the Sunday night and then the next one three days later on Wednesday; if your first timetabled day is usually a Tuesday you would test Monday and Thursday and so on. Students aged 18 and over should self-test and report the result, with assistance if needed. Students under 17 should self-test and report with adult supervision. The adult may conduct the test if necessary.
How do you report your results?
Once you have taken the test you must report your result to NHS Test and Trace as soon as the test is completed either online or by telephone calling 119 following the instructions in the home test kit.
You will also need to report your result to college – your tutor will give you instructions on how and when to do this and we will also publish updated guidance on this page.
Students with a positive LFT test result will need to self-isolate in line with the stay-at-home guidance. They will also need to arrange a lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm the result if the test was done at home.
Those with a negative LFT test result can continue to attend college in line with and using the protective measures already in place.
Need more information?
We are always here to answer any questions you may have about this next step in keeping our college community safe, get in touch with your tutor with any questions and we will be posting new updates on this webpage, so stay connected.
The Government have also recently published two blogs as additional resources which provide further information on testing for school staff, students and families:
Updated 04/03/21 @10:45
The College has been working with NHS Test & Trace since January and our on-campus Asymptomatic Testing Site (ATS) for Lateral Flow Tests (LFT) is set up so that students without symptoms, who may be infectious but unaware, are able to get tested and self-isolate if positive or to be reassured quickly if they are not.
When students return, they will be asked to undertake three COVID tests in college over their first three weeks back on campus. Once the initial three tests have been completed over the three-week period, students will be supplied with further tests to be taken at home. All students and parents have been contacted via email with the specific arrangements for their return.
Parents and guardians of students under 18, have also been asked to return the consent form emailed to you. Participation in testing is voluntary and will not be administered without the consent of the student undergoing the test as well as the parent or carer of any student aged under 18 years of age.
The Government has advised that you will need to wear a face covering when travelling to and from college and at all times in and around college including in classrooms.
If you have any queries, please contact your Progress Coach who will be able to help answer your questions.
Updated 04/03/21 @ 11:00am
Updated 05/03/21 @13:30
The Government recently announced changes to how final grades will be calculated across a number of qualifications and programmes this academic year. While we have clarity on how GCSE grades will be calculated, guidance on BTEC, Vocational and Technical qualifications will be outlined in the near future. The College will clarify the position on BTEC, Vocational and Technical qualifications when we receive further guidance.
Over the next few months, the College will be determining and submitting a teacher assessed grade for learners due to complete GCSE exams later in the year. Teachers, who know their learners best, will be drawing on a range of information, not just a single assessment point, to arrive at a fair and reasonable judgement. We will ensure no learner is disadvantaged due to remote learning, with final outcomes taken from a range of evidence across each learner’s time at Sparsholt College.
We understand how uncertain and unsettling the past few weeks have been and the College will continue to support learners on their return from 8th March. Learners will continue to be assessed on work completed and this work may form part of the final grade outcome. Therefore, it is vitally important that learners continue to engage with their lessons and attend regularly.
The College asks that learners and parents do not contact individual teachers or support staff in relation to teacher assessed grades. We thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter. Any further information will be shared in due course along with any further relevant detail that Ofqual issue in the coming months.
In line with our previous advice that we will not charge for unused college transport or on-site accommodation during periods of lockdown and appreciating that this is a difficult time for many, we intend to suspend the payment plans for Sparsholt Campus on-site accommodation and college transport for the months of March and April. This will apply to those who have not used college contracted coaches, unused Stagecoach services or accommodation services during January and February 2021. We will of course then conduct a full reconciliation of all accounts once we have a date for return to on-site/face-to-face delivery.
If you are experiencing financial difficulty at this time, please email creditcontrol@sparsholt.ac.uk and we will discuss a revised payment plan with you. The college is also contacting Stagecoach and South Western Railway to establish if they will reimburse the cost of passes purchased via the college for the period of the lockdown and we will update users once we know their position.
We know how difficult the reality of another lockdown is and that it impacts our whole community. Should you need any points of clarification in relation to arrangements, if you are experiencing any difficulty in accessing technology to learn from home or if you feel that you need additional support, please can we ask you to contact your Progress Coach who will be pleased to assist or facilitate the specialist support according to your needs.
Click here to read our Remote Learning Pledge.
We understand that this can be a worrying time for some of you returning to your studies, there are a range of resources on Sparsholt Student Services page on Moodle which you may find helpful to support you at this time.
The Wellbeing team are continuing to work to support you and can be contacted on wellbeingteamsparsholt.@sparsholt.ac.uk.
Find out more about our Wellbeing support here.
Students who are facing financial difficulties can contact Student Services for information, advice and support. Please email studentfunding@sparsholt.ac.uk
The college has carried out a comprehensive risk assessment of which the current version is available by request from here.
Sparsholt College’s dedicated staff have been working hard to implement a range of safety measures across the Sparsholt site, ensuring you feel safe and secure when arriving at our countryside campus.
Find out more from our Principal Julie Milburn below, or read more here.
The college has carried out a comprehensive risk assessment of which the current version is available by request from here.
Updated 26/10/2020 @ 16:00
We have created a Covid-19 information guide for students, parents and carers. Please follow the advice in this guide to keep the Sparsholt community safe. Click here to view this guide.
The main symptoms of COVID-19 have been identified as:
If you have any of these symptoms, we ask that you DO NOT come into College and arrange to take a test.
If you are using College or Public Transport and the driver believes you have any symptoms, they have the right not to bring you into College.
If you attend College with any of these symptoms or they develop whilst you are at College, you will need drive yourself home or be picked up by your next of kin and taken home. You will be provided with written instructions on booking a test and reporting the results to the College.
ANYONE with symptoms should then self-isolate until they have received a negative test result back. If anyone you live with has symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 you should NOT COME to College and self-isolate for 14 days or until that person receives a negative test result back.
Please contact the College if you are unable to attend. Call 01962 797311 or email absent@sparsholt.ac.uk before 11.00am each day. Please do not just contact your Progress Coach or anyone else as that will not be recorded as a notified absence.
If you become ill, you should:
Updated 28/04/21 @ 14:30
In accordance with Department of Education Guidelines we have reviewed the requirements for face coverings as follows:
Both staff and students are required to wear face coverings in both internal and external communal areas and corridors, when in a queue for buses or waiting to start practical activities and in the classroom. It is permissible to not wear a face covering if in the fresh air outside and whilst maintaining social distancing of 2m.
Staff are able to permit students to remove face coverings at their discretion, where the wearing of them would inhibit the learning experience (for example in some practical lessons, exertive duties). We are also asking all students travelling to college to wear face coverings on college arranged transport.
The Wellbeing team, based in Student Services, can help and support you remotely or in person. Studying at college in a subject that you’re passionate about is exciting, but it can be daunting too especially during the current situation. We know how important it is to stay focused on your studies but we recognise that life can get in the way sometimes. If you are finding things difficult, it is important to know that you are not alone.
At Home
For self-help information, video clips, links to websites and general support information, please see Sparsholt Student Services page on Moodle.
On Campus
For support with anything that is affecting your enjoyment at Sparsholt, please contact the team to arrange a meeting on wellbeingteamsparsholt@sparsholt.ac.uk. Alternatively you may pop into student services during our opening times to arrange an appointment directly.
If you would like to refer to our counselling service, please see the learner counselling section on Moodle. There is a short referral form to complete, then our counselling coordinator will contact you about arranging an appointment.
View the latest information from ofqual here.
View the latest information on COVID-19 from the Government
View the latest information from the NHS