From Ms Allum

I hope you are all keeping safe and well in these strange new times. My thoughts and prayers have been with everyone in the School community.

I just had a couple of messages to bring to you today.

Wilkinson House

We wanted to let you know that we were notified late on Friday that the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) had approved our Masterplan DA for the site, but rejected our proposed demolition of Wilkinson House. The press release can be seen here.

You might have already seen this announcement in one of the media outlets, or on social media last weekend.

Whilst we were really pleased that they supported our overall vision for the long-term Masterplan of the School, we were disappointed that they didn’t approve our immediate plans for the redevelopment of Wilkinson House. The IPC has provided a lot of information about their decisions and their reasons, we are working through in a considered way. Our consultants are working with the School Board and others about the possible options going forward to ensure that Wilkinson House can become a premium education space.

We will continue to provide you with updates and let you know the way forward in due course.

COVID-19 and our protocols

Just a few particular reminders for parents – your health is really important, and we also want to look after our staff really really well. Remember that adult to adult transmission is the most significant risk in schools.

1. Please don’t come on to the school grounds unless it is absolutely necessary, and under no circumstances if you are at all unwell.
2. Please don’t congregate close to the Primary School gates when you are picking up your daughters. Please stand well clear from the gates, and from each other! You should be 1.5 metres away from each other, and also give staff the ability to move around to assist with students getting into cars etc.
3. Please be respectful of our staff in Reception and the School Shop. Please stand well back from staff and maintain a physical distance at all times.

Just as we have been saying to the girls and staff regularly, if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, please do not come to school to pick up your daughter, or to purchase items from the School Shop, or for any other reason. Please follow the clear health advice  to ensure that we keep EVERYONE in the School community safe – including you!

Just a couple of other arrangements at the School Shop. If at all possible, I would ask you to email or phone through orders if you know what items you need for your daughter. We can deliver orders to Primary students and the Secondary girls can pick up their orders if we have them ready and waiting to be collected, and this can be a cashless transaction for everyone’s safety.

If you are waiting to be served at the Shop, please do wait outside in the courtyard, rather than crowding in the shop itself or the internal corridor leading to the Shop. We are trying to limit the number of customers at any one time, and ask that you only use the Shop only for essential purchases (you can still use items of the summer uniform if needed).

Best wishes to you all.