We are excited to welcome all of our new and returning students to BDC after the summer, and hope everyone has had a restful and enjoyable break.
The new academic year starts from Thursday 2 September 2021. All students have been emailed their timetable and information about what they can expect when they arrive on campus for their first timetabled session. If your young person hasn’t yet received their timetable, please contact bdcadmin@bdc.ac.uk .
The safety of our students, staff and local community is our priority. These are the following COVID-19 measures we’ve put into place for the start of the new academic year.
Induction Week
- All students are asked to attend their first induction session at the time advised, take an on-site lateral flow test and record the result.
- At this session, students will be given work to complete remotely and will be notified of their next on-site session, which will be a minimum of 5 days later. If students miss their test and for continued home testing, Lateral flow tests will also be given to all students, which will need to be completed and recorded at home 3 or 5 days after the initial test.
- At the beginning of their second on-site session, students will be asked to complete another lateral flow test and record the result. Any students who have a positive test result will be sent home via contact with their parent or carer and asked to arrange a PCR test. Timetabled classes will commence from this time.
Ongoing testing & reporting
Throughout the term, all students, staff and apprentices are recommended to carry out home lateral flow testing twice weekly, three to four days apart. Tests can be collected from the College. Test results should be recorded as 'Positive', 'Negative' or 'Void' via the NHS website. This is essential to ensure we keep our communities safe.
Students who have a positive test result must not attend campus. Please call the college to report the absence and inform us of a positive test: 020 8090 3020
If a positive test result or two consecutive void tests are recorded, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test will need to be requested from the NHS website.
If a student has symptoms of COVID-19, they must not attend college and will need to arrange to have a PCR test.
Vaccine roll-out and self-isolation rules
Anyone over the age of 16 is now eligible for their COVID-19 vaccine. There is no longer a need to self-isolate if both doses of the COVID vaccine have been received or if the student is under 18 years and 6 months of age, unless they have symptoms. Find out more about booking a vaccination and the new self-isolation rules on the NHS website.
General guidance
As always, we welcome all staff, students and visitors to continue to:
- Maintain social distancing
- Wear a mask in communal indoor college spaces
- Wash and sanitise hands regularly
- Keep classrooms well ventilated and wear face coverings in indoor communal college spaces
Wishing you all a successful, happy and healthy year with us here at BDC.
Yvonne Kelly, Principal and CEO
Updated 01 September 2021
