College roadmap for a safe return to campus learning

New City College is prioritising safety in plans to get students and staff back to our campus classrooms.

After the Government’s announcement that schools and colleges would resume in March, senior staff are working on a safety roadmap back to campus, including robust Covid testing, the wearing of face masks and a phased return for students.

Online lessons have been very well attended through the latest lockdown, with the college issuing over 2,000 laptops for remote learning, but it’s welcome news that a return to campus study can now be planned.

CEO and Group Principal Gerry McDonald said: “All our students and staff have worked incredibly hard in their remote lessons, however, it’s now important for students to get back to the practical side of their courses to develop the skills they need to get qualified. We will have our own roadmap to prepare for a safe return for all students and staff.”

Much of the focus in national plans and the media has been around school pupils, but for college the return to classroom learning will be no mean feat. Gerry McDonald continued: “Whether you’re studying A Levels, a full-time vocational course, or you’re a part-time adult student, we are prioritising your safety in our plans to get you back to campus learning.”

The college already has a robust model of Covid testing at each of its campuses and is ready to scale this up as necessary. Masks will be compulsory at least until Easter in line with Government guidelines. Each group of students is being carefully considered in the phased return and will be informed about when they should go back in to college.

New City College is one of the country’s leading college groups comprising Epping Forest, Hackney, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Havering colleges, Attlee A Level Academy and Havering Sixth Form.