On this page you can find more infomation about what we are doing at Richmond upon Thames College to ensure our students, staff and visitors are safe while on campus.
Please note that under current Government guidance, as of Thursday 20 January, it will no longer be a requirement for face coverings to be worn in classrooms and workshops. The requirement to wear face coverings in communal areas will remain in place until Thursday 27 January.
Please continue to test regulary and contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you test positive or have any quieries regaring Covid-19. If you do test positive for Covid-19 or you are feeling unwell, please stay at home and contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or your line manager if you are a member of staff.
Please click here for the latest update to isolation periods.
Ofsted Report for Covid-19 response
Richmond upon Thames College is extremely pleased with their Ofsted Interim visit report (November 2020) on their Covid-19 adaptations which highlighted how quickly the College adapted its curriculum delivery online, ensuring that students and staff are safe and supported during this difficult time. You can read the report by clicking here.
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16-19 Tuition Fund
The 16 to 19 tuition fund is a quantity of one-off funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for the 2021 to 2022 academic year only. It is ring fenced funding for schools, colleges and all other 16 to 19 providers to mitigate the disruption to learning arising from coronavirus (COVID-19).
At Richmond upon Thames College, we are utilising the allocated funding in line with ESFA guidance in the following ways:
- Additional small-group subject-specific workshops
- Targeted additional English and Maths support for small groups of students
- Increased small-group support and intervention from the Inclusive Learning Support team, particularly with Functional Skills
- Additional wellbeing support for students who have been impacted severely by COVID-19
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Wellbeing support
We know that the current situation can be difficult and a lot of us will be experiencing issues with our mental and physical health. We have put together a Wellbeing Support page with some tips and ideas of how to stay positive. We have also included contact details for Student Services, including our Safeguarding team and our Counsellor.
As well as this there is a list of links and telephone numbers of external organisations that we thought could be useful to you or someone you know. Please do not suffer in silence, it is okay to not be okay and we are here to help as much as we can.
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Student Protocols
In order to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the Safety, Health and Wellbeing of everyone on campus, the following protocols must be adhered to at all times.
Any person with any regular symptoms indicating the possibility of having Covid-19, including a raised temperature, new and continuous cough and/or loss of smell or taste must not enter the College.
In common with other campus users, students are required to:
1) only attend college when invited or timetabled to do so, arriving on site no earlier than 10 minutes prior to your first lesson and leaving within 10 minutes after your last lesson.
2) have your temperature taken on entry to the building. Those who display symptoms will be refused entry and asked to return home and contact NHS 111 for a test. If you have a raised temperature, you will be taken to the isolation room and the temperature will be re-taken within 15 minutes. If the temperature remains high you will be sent home and asked to contact NHS 111 for a test. If your test is positive please contact Attendance:- Text: 07860023866/ Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
3) safely store any face coverings used on public/shared transport on arrival at College, or dispose of them in the designated waste bins. There will be a limited supply of disposable face masks on request from Student Services.
4) sanitise hands on entry and throughout the day. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet. Wear face coverings in all corridors and communal areas, unless you are exempt for medical reasons, or whilst eating or drinking. Where 2 metre distancing is not possible you may be requested to wear a face covering in other parts of the building.
5) not mix with others outside of your designated bubble(s). Students have been allocated to teaching bubbles. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that bubbles do not mix, the College cannot guarantee 100% integrity of bubbles.
Bubbles are identified by the colour of their lanyard
• A Levels - Green
• STEM - Red
• Creative - Industries Purple
• Business, Catering, Sport, Travel and Tourism - Magenta
• Healthcare and Early Years and Supported Learning Light - Blue
• Staff Dark - Blue
• Visitors - Yellow
6) bring your own stationery, pens, pencils, notebook and digital devices if possible. College equipment for practical lessons will be provided. Strict cleaning regimes will be in place in this regard.
7) adhere to the marked one-way systems and respect the personal space of others whilst on Campus. In corridors, walk on the left-hand side, single file, paying attention to the social distance markers displayed on the floors. Avoid contact with others – do not shake hands or hug others, for instance.
8) Note the health and safety rules provided to you during your induction.
9) if you become unwell whilst on site or experience symptoms of Covid-19, you should immediately go to reception where you will be taken to an isolation room where an assessment will be made about next steps.
10) not enter or attempt to enter any part of the building than that which has been made available to you.
11) refrain from using mobile phones when moving around campus, to ensure you are aware of your surroundings and social distance space.
12) tell someone in a position of responsibility if you have any concerns or worries.
These requirements have been set to protect you and all those who share the campus with you. Those who refuse to socially distance, or who put others in vulnerable situations such as deliberately coughing or spitting, will not be tolerated and will be dealt with under the Student Support and Disciplinary Policy.
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Workshop Protocols
The Safety, Health and Wellbeing of everyone on campus, the following protocols must be adhered to at all times.
Any person with any regular symptoms indicating the possibility of having Covid-19, including a high temperature, new and continuous cough and/or loss of smell or taste must not enter the College.
1. These protocols are in addition to the risk assessments which have been completed for each of the Colleges workshop.
2. All Risk Assessments must have been reviewed and amended to reflect social distancing measures and control measures to reduce the level of risk through contamination.
3. The planned use and layout of workshops remain the responsibility of the Head of School working in conjunction with Head of Estates and staff.
4. Staff should maintain a 2-meter distance from their students, staying at the front of the room whenever possible.
5. Practical lessons should be planned and workshops configured to maintain at least 1 meter social distancing between staff and students. Demonstrations should be given by way of use of technology.
6. Students and staff must sanitise hands on entry to the workshops and throughout the day. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet. Wear face coverings in corridors and communal areas, unless you are exempt for medical reasons
7. PPE must not be shared between students. All disposable PPE should be removed and disposed of in designated waste bins
8. Coveralls must not be shared. Students must take coveralls away and wash prior to return.
9. Students should only have access to equipment which is necessary for that lesson to take place.
10. Hand tools which are not in use should be removed or locked away.
11. The workshops should be thoroughly ventilated prior to each class and after use by opening windows or doors.
12. Staff and Technicians/ Facilitators should prepare all teaching equipment prior to commencement of lessons, ensuring as far as reasonably practicable, that there are limited shared resources.
13. Where shared use cannot be avoided, Technicians/ Facilitators must clean and disinfect the equipment or material at the end of use/before the next use.
14. At the end of lessons, all tools and equipment should be cleaned down with disinfectant and stored appropriately.
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Remote Learning
Where possible, some lessons will be taught remotely via Microsoft Teams and Moodle. Your teachers will provide further advice on this and you can find general help and guidance from our remote learning page by clicking here.
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Staff Protocols
In order to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the Safety, Health and Wellbeing of everyone on campus, the following protocols must be adhered to at all times.
Any person with any regular symptoms indicating the possibility of having Covid-19, including a high temperature, new and continuous cough and/or loss of smell or taste must not enter the College.
In common with other campus users, staff are required to:
1) Safely secure any face coverings used on public/shared transport on arrival at College, or dispose of them in the designated waste bins. Student facing staff will be given a face shield, it is the individual’s responsibility to keep these sanitised. There will be a limited supply of disposable face masks on request from Estates.
2) Have your temperature taken on entry to the building. Those who display symptoms will be refused entry and asked to return home and contact NHS 111 for a test. If you have a high temperature, you will be taken to the isolation room and the temperature will be re-taken within 15 minutes. If the temperature remains high you will be sent home and asked to contact NHS 111 for a test. If your test is positive please contact HR as soon as you are able.
3) Sanitise hands on entry and throughout the day. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet. Wear face coverings in all corridors and communal areas, unless you are exempt for medical reasons, or whilst eating or drinking.
4) Encourage students not to mix with others outside of their designated bubble(s). Students have been allocated to teaching bubbles. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that bubbles do not mix, this may be unavoidable in some instances such as teaching English and Maths, blended learning is being used to minimise this contact.
Bubbles are identified by the colour of their lanyard
• A Levels - Green
• STEM - Red
• Creative Industries - Purple
• Business, Catering, Sport, Travel and Tourism - Magenta
• Healthcare and Early Years and Supported Learning - Light Blue
• Staff Dark - Blue
• Visitors - Yellow
5) Staff working in the staff rooms should only work face to face or back to back , a clear desk policy allows for regular cleaning. Self-regulate the use of staff rooms by taking your devices to a communal space to work if you feel the room is at capacity as it is not possible to create more space in staff rooms. Hot desking is now not required but could be possible providing hygiene is maintained. If you are hot desking, please wipe down the desk and any fixed equipment with the wipes provided.
6) Maintain personal hygiene and ensure our students comply with strict hygiene standards. Cleaning materials are provided for ad hoc cleaning
7) Adhere to the marked one-way systems and respect the personal space of others whilst on Campus. In corridors, walk on the left-hand side, single file, paying attention to the social distance markers displayed on the floors. Avoid contact with others – do not shake hands or hug others, for instance.
8) Only use lifts for those staff and students that require support or for the transportation of goods.
9) Inform your line manager immediately if you become unwell whilst on site or experience symptoms of Covid-19, and you will be taken to an isolation room where an assessment will be made about next steps.
10) Only enter those parts of the building which have been made available to you.
11) It is all of our responsibilities to model behaviour and ensure students are keeping to the safe practices prescribed.
12) Tell someone in HR or Estates if you have any concerns or worries.
These requirements have been set to protect you and all those who share the campus with you. Those who refuse to socially distance or who put others in vulnerable situations by not following the rules, will be dealt with under the appropriate policy and we expect staff to support this behaviour management.
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Visitor Protocols
In order to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the Safety, Health and Wellbeing of everyone on campus, the following protocols must be adhered to at all times.
Any person with any regular symptoms indicating the possibility of having Covid-19, including a high temperature, new and continuous cough and/or loss of smell or taste must not enter the College.
In common with other campus users, visitors are required to:
1) Safely secure any face coverings used on public/shared transport on arrival at College, or dispose of them in the designated waste bins.
2) Have your temperature taken on entry to the building. Those who display symptoms will be refused entry and asked to return home and contact NHS 111 for a test. If you have a high temperature, you will be taken to the isolation room and the temperature will be re-taken within 15 minutes. If the temperature remains high you will be sent home and asked to contact NHS 111 for a test. If your test is positive please contact HR as soon as you are able.
3) Sanitise hands on entry and throughout the day. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet. Wear face coverings in all corridors and communal areas, unless you are exempt for medical reasons, or whilst eating or drinking.
4) Adhere to the marked one-way systems and respect the personal space of others whilst on Campus. In corridors, walk on the left-hand side, single file, paying attention to the social distance markers displayed on the floors. Avoid contact with others – do not shake hands or hug others, for instance.
5) Only use lifts for those that require support or for the transportation of goods.
6) Inform a member of staff immediately if you become unwell whilst on site or experience symptoms of Covid-19, and you will be taken to an isolation room where an assessment will be made about next steps.
7) Only enter those parts of the building which have been made available to you.
8) Speak to a member of staff if you have any concerns or worries.
These requirements have been set to protect you and all those who share the campus with you. Those who refuse to socially distance or who put others in vulnerable situations by not following the rules, will be dealt with under the appropriate policy.
