Twitter
01525 750400
E-mail Us
Statement from Mr Conquest 3rd June 2020
Dear Parents
Following my letter to Y6 parents last week (see attached) we have reviewed the evidence that is available to us and feel that nothing substantial has changed to alter our decision, so Woodland will remain closed to pupils, other than Key Workers’ Children from week commencing 8th June 2020. We will continue to look at the evidence for opening every day.
We have considered the following information in reaching this conclusion:
- The National R* value (0.7-0.9) and the impact that might be had on this by opening our school to significantly more pupils (using SAGE data from Public Health England).
- SAGE/PHE-POLYMOD data modelling and the impact that opening to Y6 could have on the R value.
- SAGE Surveillance report for week 22 and the level of cases in Bedfordshire’s three parts (our hospitals are in Bedford and Luton after all).
- Evidence of the effectiveness of the Government’s “Test and Trace” system – which is not yet available.
- Support from Flitwick parents in respect of the decision made last week – which was overwhelmingly positive by email and Twitter.
We know that the country needs to get parents back to work and therefore pupils back to school to enable this, but we feel unable to provide spaces in school next week beyond the key workers’ childcare that we are already offering.
Woodland has not closed at all since the lockdown began – we have looked after the children of key workers right the way through the holidays too.
As per the letter attached dated 29th May 2020 – we will continue to remain open to only Key Workers’ Children in week commencing 8th June but continuously review this ahead of a potential opening on the 15th June.
Jeff Conquest
*R value is the infection rate - where anything above 1.0 would result in cases rising exponentially again