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Guernsey's three private colleges reopen to all students today - but it will be a different learning environment for pupils with new guidelines laid down by Public Health.
The Ladies College, Elizabeth College and Blanchelande College have all had to rearrange classrooms and communal areas to meet social distancing guidelines, with strict rules in place about arriving and leaving school and where break times can be spent.
Blanchelande's school bus service will not be running for the foreseeable future and the public bus service is running a weekend service all week currently so more pupils will be driven to school at each of the three colleges.
Pictured: Blanchelande College will reopen to all pupils today, 1 June (file image).
Blanchelande College's Principal, Robert O'Brien said it is "wonderful and exciting news to be returning to school!"
In a letter to parents last week he had outlined the conditions for the school site reopening, with staff having worked hard "producing resources to aid the transition back to relative normality" for the last few weeks before the summer break.
Elizabeth College Principal Jenny Palmer said both the junior and upper school will reopen today after a successful time remote learning since 20 March.
Pictured: Elizabeth College will also reopen to students today, 1 June.
"It has been superb to see our students and families engaging with the Elizabeth College Virtual School over the last half term, alongside the virtual clubs and our community activities. We are very grateful to parents for all the support you have given to your children over this time, for your feedback and your messages of support to the College at what has undoubtedly been a very challenging time in very different ways for every member of our community. It has been really lovely to see examples of your children’s work but I am hugely looking forward to welcoming everyone back to our College sites for our new normal.
"My final thank you goes to all of the College staff, both Junior and Upper School teams, who have supported the planning and delivery of the Virtual School as well as keeping both sites up and running for those students who have been in with us and in preparation for the return of everyone."
Pictured: The Ladies College.
The Ladies College is also reopening its entire school - Melrose and the Senior School - today following agreements between the school Board of Governors, Public Health and the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture.
Principal of The Ladies College, Ashley Clancy wrote to parents recently to confirm the school was "working hard to have plans in place, which we can share with you in advance, to assure you of our priorities for personal safety when we return, whilst we continue with our approach to encourage personal health and to provide meaningful, relevant and sustainable work. Our plans will follow expectations from Public Health and the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture and seek to sustain and develop our provision for our College community."
It was announced last month that all States run schools will reopen on 8 June - a full week after the end of the half term break, to ensure staff have prepared for social distancing measures and increased hygiene standards. This coming week students will instead be continuing their distance learning supported remotely by teachers.
Pictured top: Guernsey's three private schools are reopening to all pupils today.
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