Main Menu

WELCOME

Menu

WELCOME

Menu

Important Covid updates from the Headteacher

  • November 29, 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

I write to you with an update on the covid situation here in school. We are experiencing some disruption to learning because of Covid related staff absences; however, the number of cases amongst students currently remains relatively low but we must remain vigilant because this could suddenly change. I have been made aware of a school not too far away in a neighbouring authority that is now closed to all year groups this week due to a significant rise in transmission rates. You can play your part in minimising the risk of this happening here at Freddies by continuing to ensure that your child takes a home test every Wednesday and Sunday and by reporting positive cases to school on the email address covid@flhs.wigan.sch.uk. It goes without saying that if your child displays any symptoms of Covid, please do not send them into school and arrange for a PCR test. In relation to the wearing of face coverings, the government announced last night that students, staff and visitors in schools in England must now wear face coverings in communal areas. For Wigan schools this marks no change to the existing guidance that has already been put in place by the Director of Public Health for Wigan, Professor Kate Ardern.  Professor Ardern has also issued the following recommendation relating to household close contacts of positive cases:

I am now encouraging household contacts of a positive case, to undertake daily lateral flow tests, in addition to the PCR test that is recommended in national guidance. Contacts should start testing from the day their household member either became unwell with COVID-19, or tested positive if they did not have symptoms, and continue this for 10 days. Please remember if the close contact tests negative, they can continue attending school. If the close-contact has a positive LFD result, they must start isolating, have a PCR test and inform school. If the close contact develops COVID-19 symptoms, they should book a PCR test. It is important that people with COVID-19 symptoms do not rely on a negative LFD test and they should have a PCR test. If the contact develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home. Any child, aged between 5 – 16 yrs, who has tested positive for COVID-19 via a PCR test within the past 90 days should not undertake LFD tests

Professor Kate Arden, Director of Public Health for Wigan

We have also received a directive from the DFE that all secondary schools will need to test on site all students upon their return to school after the Christmas holiday. This will have a direct impact on the start of the new term in January. I am giving you advance notice now to expect a slightly staggered and disrupted start to the new term as a result of this. I will write to you closer to the end of this term with the full details once we have finalised the logistics.Thank you for your continued support.

Mr P Davies

Headteacher

How Yondr Works

Frequently Asked Questions

We want our students to be engaged in their learning. A child at high school should not really have a reason to contact a parent during the day; however, if there is a genuine reason e.g. they have forgotten their packed lunch, a phone call can be made home from the school office. If a parent needs to contact their child in an emergency, they should contact the school office. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact the main office on 01942 883796.

In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency procedures.

 

Students are in possession of their phone - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch safely in their school bag or blazer pockets.

If a student damages their Pouch or is caught on their phone, we will confiscate the phone and issue a sanction which is likely to be a suspension.

Note: Damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school or Yondr staff.

Damaged pouches will be charged to parents at a cost of £20.

They will be searched and wanded with a handheld scanner by a member of SLT. If they are found to have their phone on their person they will be expected to place it in their pouch. Refusal will be met with suspension.

If a student forgets their Pouch, their phone will be confiscated.

As per our previous mobile phone policy;

  • Confiscated phones will be taken to reception where the phone will be secured in the school safe.
  • Parents will be alerted to the phone confiscation via the school office.

Parents will have the option to collect the phone at the end of the day. If parents do not collect the phone, the phone will remain in school until the end of the week or until the student has their pouch.

In Yondr’s experience, this almost never happens. All students funnel past the unlocking stations at the exits, they want their phones back and don’t forget to unlock their pouches. If they do arrive home with a phone in a pouch, they can either come back to school to unlock it, or have a phone free evening!

The unlocking process is quick and takes under a second per student. 

As a privilege, Year 11 will be able to unlock their phones as they go off site at lunchtime; however, they will be expected to put their phones back into their pouches when they return to school for period 5.

Yes. There is an adapted version of the pouch which uses a Velcro fastener instead of a magnetic lock. This means the student still follows the policy, but the adapted pouch gives them easy access to their phone when required. If the student abuses this, they will face a sanction. We are already aware of these students.

Your Office 365 account username is your school network account username followed by @flhs.wigan.sch.uk 
The password is the same password that you use in school to access computers.