I’m writing tonight to inform you that a Year 10 student has tested positive at Worthing High School.

I would like to assure you that a very detailed procedure is now being closely followed to ensure the safety of all students and staff. I have called the Department for Education's dedicated helpline and we are following official advice. 

We are in the process of contact tracing; all members of staff who have been in close contact with the student have now been notified and appropriate steps have been taken to protect them, their students and their families. We are also in the process of contacting all pupils who will have been in close contact with the student concerned. 

Because of the number of students in Year 10, this is a complex and thorough process and, as you would expect, we will do this with the utmost dedication and accuracy. 

As a result, all Year 10 students are now being instructed to remain at home tomorrow, Monday 14 December. 

This means self-isolation: Year 10 students must stay at home and not go out. 

Year 10 students will be able to access their normal lessons via Microsoft Teams. We will send out further guidance in the morning – the day will start at Period 1 – when registers will be taken. 

My colleagues and I will spend tomorrow working on contact tracing in the Y10 bubble to ascertain the extent of potential contacts. The aim of keeping Y10 home during this process is to contain any potential outbreak. Once we are certain that all close contacts have been identified, we will be able to make an informed decision on next steps. This will be one of two outcomes: 

• Close contacts can be identified and instructed to self-isolate for 10 days. The remainder of Y10 will be able to return to the academy.
• There are too many close contacts, or too much uncertainty about contacts within the Y10 bubble, and the whole of Y10 will be instructed to self-isolate for 10 days.

This decision will be taken tomorrow following further consultation with the relevant authorities and I will keep you fully informed. Further guidance will also be issued about work for students tomorrow.

Because we have maintained the integrity of year group bubbles, this does not apply to any other year groups and therefore it is only Y10 students who must remain at home tomorrow.

I do understand that this will cause some anxiety and upset. I would like to assure you that all possible steps are being taken to ensure that the correct procedures are now followed to maintain public safety whilst at the same time attempting to minimise disruption to students’ education and family life.

I will provide further information tomorrow. In the meantime, I would like to thank you for your calmness and patience.

Finally, I have passed on my very best wishes to the student concerned and their family; as you can imagine, this is a difficult and stressful time for them They are very much in my thoughts and my colleagues and I wish them a speedy recovery.

Pan Panayiotou

Headteacher