01763 242344
office@bassingbournvc.org

Latest update from Ms Poulter – Coronavirus

Given the address made by the Prime Minister late yesterday afternoon, I have taken steps to address some of the emerging issues. My immediate concern is how to manage the site safely in response to staff illness and absence due to self-isolation.  What follows is our direction and advice as it currently stands though it is quite conceivable that further updates will follow tomorrow. At this stage, I would like to confirm that we have no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, and lessons have continued as normal today.   We have however, decided to postpone the year 8 guidance meetings as from today (year 8 parents will be contacted separately regarding the rearrangement of these meetings), all clubs and extra-curricular activities have been cancelled, and the year 11 Preparation for Exams evening scheduled for 2nd April has been postponed. As a result of the current situation I have also taken the decision to cancel any external visitors to the College which unfortunately means all peripatetic music lessons will cease with immediate effect. The Government has suggested schools remain open for Key Workers children.  Whilst I am awaiting a definition of who these are, I would be grateful if you could email office@bassingbournvc.org if you work for the Police, Fire Service or NHS; please detail if you are frontline staff (e.g. doctors, nurses) or administrative support and/or management. Current Health Advice: Staff and students already in self- isolation should now increase their time from 7 days to 14 days; • Where one family member is showing signs of the mild…

Coronavirus Update

In light of recent developments with regards to Covid -19, I wanted to write and reassure you on the measures, as a school, we are taking to ensure that our students and staff are kept safe at this unprecedented time. All members of our community are, and have been for a number of weeks, reminded about following hygiene practises through posters in toilets which demonstrate effective handwashing techniques.  Furthermore, hand sanitizer is available throughout the school. However, in line with new government guidelines outlined yesterday, we do now ask parents to support additional measures introduced to keep our school safe.  As a result, if your child has a temperature of 37.8c and above or has as a new continuous cough, we ask you self-isolate for 7 days.  In addition, if your child has been in close contact with a confirmed case, we request you self-isolate for 14 days. More information on this can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ Furthermore the Department for Education has a Coronavirus helpline for parents, staff and young people.  Phone: 0800 046 8687 Can I kindly remind you that with all absences, you will need to inform the school office on a daily basis via absence@bassingbournvc.org.  We do ask you email every day, even when self-isolating, as it is imperative we continue to follow our safeguarding practices. In addition, following the new government advice, we have cancelled all residential trips that were planned between now and Easter.  While we understand this is disappointing for students, we do feel this is the right…

Spanish Exchange at BVC

This week, we wished a fond farewell to Spanish students. Year 9, Jess Grant describes the visit. On 3rd March BVC students hosted the return trip for their Spanish exchanges from Albacete. We were all really excited to see our partners again as we hadn’t seen them for about 5 months. They arrived at 3.30 just in time to meet us and head home where they spent their 1st evening with their partner’s family's getting use to our English customs. On Wednesday they spend the day at the school doing fun activities and experiencing English school life. Activities included tours of the school, being treated to a cream tea, which got mixed opinions from both English and Spanish students, and a PE lesson. After an early start on Thursday the Spanish students spend a day in London sightseeing which they all enjoyed despite our typical British weather. On Friday both English and Spanish students spent the day in Cambridge touring round different Cambridge colleges, shopping, completing a fun scavenger hunt around the city and punting on the river. In the evening students returned home to be entertained by their host families. During the weekend students were kept busy by their families doing many different activities that included: a birthday party, bowling, sampling pub food, shopping, museums and someone even went indoor skydiving. Monday came too soon and their final day was spent in school doing different classroom activities with year 8. Tearful farewells marked the end of this year’s Spanish exchange however lifelong friendships and…

Mathematical Triumph

Recently, BVC Mathematicians took part in the UKMT Maths Challenge competitions which provide a great enrichment opportunity; allowing students to hone their problem solving skills through a 60 minute challenge. We are delighted that a number of our students witnessed success with many receiving a Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates. A massive well done to our Gold winners who are now through to the next round in the competition known as The Pink Kangaroo.

Spelling Bee Success

Congratulations to the young linguists in Year 7 who have been taking part in the annual BVC Spelling Bee. Students had to learn a selection of common words in French or Spanish and then were tested on how many they could spell correctly within a time limit. The top 20 in each language will now go through to the next round when they have to learn a further 50 words. Bonne chance everyone!

Coronavirus Update

We would like to reassure parents that all measures are being taken to ensure our pupils and staff are kept safe and we are following government guidance from Public Health England. We are reminding students of hygiene practices are displaying posters in toilets showing effective hand washing procedures.  We also have sanitizer in the first aid room and reception. Regarding school trips, we are continuing to follow Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidance for travel  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus.  Claiming for cancellation of a school trip to an insurer is only possible if the FCO have advised against travel to the planned destination or if a cancellation is outside of your control e.g. a flight is cancelled.   All our planned trips abroad will therefore go ahead as planned unless we are advised by the FCO that travel is not permitted.  If that is the case, then we will contact parents directly.    If individual parents wish to withdraw their child from a trip abroad and the FCO has placed no restrictions on travel to the destination, then the parents will lose all the funds paid. A reminder that up to date government guidance can be found on their website - visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus  The latest travel guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public Further information on what you should do if you are asked to self-isolate can be found here: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/02/20/what-is-self-isolation-and-why-is-it-important/ There is also a Government Coronavirus action plan which can be found on their website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan The document includes: ·         what we know about the virus and the disease it causes ·        …

Stunning Cathedral trip

As part of Curriculum Day, Year 9 students went on a humanities trip to Ely to take part in a variety of activities based on Art, RE, History or Geography. Lottie Bond describes the trip: After a coach ride from Bassingbourn to Ely, each group started the morning differently - my group began in the stained-glass museum that was inside the Cathedral. We began by learning centuries-old techniques used by monks to create the windows, how they made different colours and why they were made. After the workshop we began touring around the museum. On every wall were stunning patterns and designs displaying pictures depicting anything from biblical stories to images of monarchs commissioned by kings themselves. Art students took particular interest in the museum as their next scheme of learning will be incorporating some of the art styles and techniques seen there, but everyone else still enjoyed the experience. My group next ventured downstairs, into the main part of the Cathedral. With ceilings as higher than they were wide, it is an understatement to say we, including the staff, were amazed with the beauty of it all. As we entered, both the ceilings and the walls were decorated with intricate designs showing biblical stories, including the Nativity, the Easter story and the Ascension. While we were all stunned at the cathedral itself, we were kept interested by our tour guide, who not only taught us about common Christian teachings but also opened up theological discussions into the nature of God, which I, as an…

Dance Show gallery

BVC students Talking Aloud

Year 9 students Amelia Peace and Elliot Perkin represented Bassingbourn Village College at the inaugural Cambridge Talking Aloud competition. The public speaking competition was organised by Amber-Page Moss, of Peterhouse College, University of Cambridge, and attracted state schools from across Cambridgeshire. Amber visited Bassingbourn last term to deliver a workshop to our Year 9 students and to explain the competition to them. Amelia and Elliot were supported by a group of their BVC friends (above) and English teacher Mrs Rebecca Boxall. The Bassingbourn B team (right) had a last minute substitution at this week's Cambridge area final of the ESU's Churchill Public Speaking Award. Year 9 student Lottie Bond stepped in at the last minute to compete alongside Matt Gilliland and Fraser Clapham. Fraser once again won the evening's Best Speaker award and the trio were awarded second place overall, narrowly missing out on a place at the semi finals which will be held at Magdalene College, Cambridge, next month.

Curriculum Day activities

The normal timetable was suspended on Tuesday to allow students to enjoy extended activities related to specific curriculum areas. Year 7 enjoyed classroom-based activities related to poetry and performance while Year 8 covered wellbeing in PSHE, seeing first-hand how to deal with worries and the power of listening to each other chat over a simple cup of hot chocolate. A trip to Ely saw Year 9 enjoy a Humanities trip to Ely where they were able to visit the Oliver Cromwell Museum, Ely Cathedral, the stained glass museum looking at religious art and a geography field study within the city. The PE and Science departments joined forces with Year 10 to look at how we process food and burn calories – literally! Activities ranged from chocolate tasting to fitness sessions, all linking to wellbeing and healthy eating. The Year 11 pastoral team took students on a day-trip to the O2 to recognise their hard work so far this year. The students voted to visit the Oxygen Freejumping Park where they were able to take part in a number of activities including virtual reality games, bowling, watching a film and a visit to the interactive Sky Studios. BVC Principal Vickey Poulter said: “It takes a lot of planning to run a Curriculum Day and the whole day was particularly busy - including an impromptu fire alarm at the end of the day! “I spoke to a number of students across year groups and they all said how much they had enjoyed the day so I’d like…

Bassingbourn Village College

South End, Bassingbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 5NJ

01763 242344

office@bassingbournvc.org
absence@bassingbournvc.org

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