Ashville signs up to SafeSchools

This group of independent schools and other key sector organisations aims to ensure the safety of all pupils and staff as schools begin to reopen across the UK, following closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of their pledge, all members have adopted the Boarding Schools’ Association’s (BSA’s) Covid-Safe Charter that was recently established on May 26.

Schools can adhere to this voluntary code, if they guarantee to adopt all appropriate measures to ensure that their boarding school is a safe environment for pupils and staff.

In line with these requirements, Ashville College – which reopened on Monday, June 1, to pupils from Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 and to pupils in Year 10 and Lower Sixth on June 15 - is putting in place a number of health, safety and wellbeing measures.

These include permitting pupils to wear face masks in school, undertaking daily temperature checks on pupils and staff on arrival, establishing social distancing measures in classrooms and across the College, and sourcing appropriate PPE for staff who require it.

It is also instigating additional measures for its international boarding pupils, ensuring they have a safe transition whether they are returning to or joining the Ashville boarding community for the first time.

In addition, Ashville College is committed to providing regular and timely updates to all parents and guardians.

Ashville College Headmaster Richard Marshall said: “The health and safety of our pupils and staff is our number one priority, hence us signing up to the BSA’s Covid-Safe Charter.

“By doing this, we are sending out a clear signal that we are doing everything in our power to minimise any risk of infection for the returning year groups.

“An extensive risk assessment has been undertaken.”