Letter from Public Health England

Dear Parent / Pupil,

A cluster of cases of the COVID-19 VOC-21APR-02 (Indian variant) have been found to be associated with Waverley School.

Birmingham City Council is now strongly encouraging all pupils, staff, and their household members to go to the nearest test site and get a PCR test done. This is to ensure everyone remains safe and limit any possible spread. We encourage you to do this even if you do not have symptom. If however, you or your family develop symptoms you must isolate for 10 days.

The 'PCR test' is processed in a laboratory and is better at finding very small amounts of the virus, especially early in infection. These tests allow Public Health England to see if there are any further cases of the variant in our school.

There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness or that it makes vaccines less effective.

Scientific evidence suggests that this variant is more transmissible – in other words, it passes more easily from person to person.

The following sites will be providing PCR tests to all pupils, staff, and their households associated with the school from Thursday 27th May 2021.

TEST SITES HERE:

•  Drive-in mobile testing unit (MTU) sites:
  • Astn University, B4 7ET
  • Mecca Bing in Acocks Green, B27 6BB
• Walk-in local testing sites (LTS):
  • Suth Parade, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1QU
  • 60 Villa St, Lzells, B19 2XS
  • Summerfield Sprts Centre, B18 4EJ
  • Astn University (car park 6), Coleshill St, B7 4EJ
  • Saltley Health & Wellbeing Centre, B9 5YD
  • University f Birmingham South Gate, B15 2TT
  • Wodgate Valley Country Park, B32 3DS
  • Liffrd House, Stirchley, B30 3BN
  • Alfred Rd, Sparkbrok, B12 8JP
  • 66-86 Orphanage Rd, Erdingtn, B24 0BE

To receive your test result, you must register your child’s test by going to https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/register-kit  or call 119 after you have completed your test.

The test results will be then communicated directly to your child or you as the parent or guardian of the child taking the test.

If anyone in your household including your child tests positive, has any symptoms or is contact traced following contact with someone who tests positive, then you and your family should self-isolate immediately in line with the guidance on GOV.UK.

The more cases we find, the better chance we have at stopping it from spreading. Please help to keep our school safer by participating in the testing.

The same national guidance continues to apply in areas where new variants have been identified and education settings can remain open. All pupils and staff should continue to follow national guidance, including ‘hands, face, space, fresh air and take a rapid LFD Covid-19 test twice a week, even if you don't have symptoms.

For more information please speak to your headteacher or visit:

• Information on surge testing for variants of Covid-19 Surge testing for new coronavirus (COVID-19) variants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Information on self-isolation: Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Thank you for your co-operation and support.

Mrs S Dosanjh and Mrs A Lloyd

Co-Principal: Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form Phases