COVID-19 TESTING AND OLDHAM COLLEGE | NEW YEAR 2021

Dear Learners, Parents, Guardians and Careers,

I HOPE you’re all looking forward to the Christmas and New Year break – and to coming back refreshed and ready to do your best in 2021.

I’m writing to you because – in recent days – you may have heard about new Government plans for COVID-19 testing in colleges in the New Year, and some discussions about a potentially ‘staggered’ return to learning.

This new testing system will be a tremendous step forward for education.

It will help to minimise the disruption to lessons during the Spring Term, but we must also do it properly, so we will take some time initially to plan its implementation.

This means that Oldham College will return as normal – and as planned – in the New Year.

MANY LEARNERS have external examinations and assessments and they will be returning to college from Monday, January 4, as directed by their tutors.

Those students not coming onto site on January 4&5 have been set work to do remotely. Evening classes will also run on January 4&5.

Everyone else will restart on-site lessons from Wednesday, January 6. January.

There will be no change to this plan, so please go and enjoy the break.

When we know more details about this testing programme we’re confident we can deliver it well, and will explain to you exactly how we will do that in the New Year.

I also want to reassure you that Oldham College always discusses its Covid-safe plans with Public Health England, and they are supportive of our approach to testing.

Please rest assured that everything is in hand – but that you should also carry on as normal until further notice.