Coronavirus Updates

Official Information

As the situation is complex and may evolve, we recommend using the following resources to stay up-to-date with the latest advice: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

If you are unwell and not able to attend College please report your absence through the normal channels outlined here.

Latest SNC Update: Thursday 24th March 2022

The College continues to be open for normal business and lessons are taking place on a face-to-face basis. We are at a busy time of year for exams and assessments as our students progress with their courses, including mock GCSE maths and English exams next week. The College is aware of current Government guidance changing from the 1st April with regards to how COVID is managed. Our response needs to be in line with that guidance but also take into consideration any specifics to our situation. As a result, we have already confirmed to our staff and students that we can no longer ask them to undertake twice-weekly lateral flow tests. The only area that this remains in place for is within our SEND (Special Educational Needs Department). Test kits will continue to be supplied to those staff and students for the foreseeable future until further confirmation is received from the Government.

However, in line with what is being experienced with COVID cases nationally and in our local area, we are seeing an increasing number of staff and learners testing positive for COVID and with COVID symptoms. Whilst we will make every effort to maintain our services, staff and student absences are inevitably causing disruption to our normal offer.

Therefore, under these circumstances, we may have to adapt our normal practice to remain operational. This may include moving some provision online where necessary or providing alternative staff cover where normal lecturers are unavailable. These decisions will be made on a course-by-course basis and where this shift needs to happen, we will ensure that this is communicated to you all as quickly and efficiently as possible by each relevant curriculum area’s Director or Head.

Given the challenges, the inevitable disruption and the speed at which the situation is constantly changing, we would ask for your patience if and when temporary arrangements need to be made, which may well be communicated at quite short notice. We would also ask for your forgiveness if our service falls below the expected standard. These are unprecedented and challenging circumstances, with all staff doing their absolute best to mitigate the impact of any potential disruption.

Alongside the changes to testing, the College has also removed the mandatory protocols around mask-wearing. Although we cannot require staff and students to wear masks, it remains our position that masks do help to prevent the spread of COVID and advise that particularly in communal areas, that staff and students wear them.

If you need to contact anyone at the College with more specific enquiries, please use this email info@suffolk.ac.uk

Kind regards

The Executive Team

Suffolk New College

Wednesday 5th January 2022

Happy new year to all our learners and their parents. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2022.

This message is designed to update you on the current College operational procedures in light of the COVID pandemic and recent Government announcements.

The College is open for normal business and lessons are still taking place on a face-to-face basis. This is in line with Government guidance, which has specified that, where possible, academic institutions are to remain open for learners and normal learning activities should continue to take place. This includes the January exam series for a number of course, where these national external assessments are due to commence on 10th January.

However, we are seeing increasing numbers of staff and learners who are needing to self-isolate as a result of positive lateral flow tests at home. Whilst we will make every effort to maintain our services, staff and student absences are inevitably causing disruption to our normal offer. We also expect this disruption to continue throughout the early months of the new year, possibly getting worse as we move further into January.

Therefore, under these circumstances, we may have to adapt our normal practice to remain operational. This may include moving some provision online, where necessary, or providing alternative staff cover where normal Lecturers are unavailable. These decisions will be made on a course-by-course basis and where this shift needs to happen, we will ensure that this is communicated to you all as quickly and efficiently as possible by each relevant curriculum area’s Director and or Head.

Given the challenges, the inevitable disruption and the speed at which the situation is constantly changing, I would ask for your patience if and when temporary arrangements need to be made, which may well be communicated at quite short notice. I would also ask for your forgiveness if our service falls below the expected standard. Rest assured, these are unprecedented and challenging circumstances, with all staff doing their absolute best to mitigate the impact of any potential disruption.

Should you need any further guidance around COVID protocols, including the mandatory wearing of face coverings whilst in College (including during lessons), testing protocols and isolation periods, please refer to the documents & links section of this page. Additionally, if you need to contact anyone at the College with more specific enquiries, please try and do this via e-mail to info@suffolk.ac.uk

Kind regards

The Executive Team

Suffolk New College

COVID-19 Documents & Links