Coronavirus (Covid-19) Information
At Plashet, we take the health and safety of our young women and staff very seriously, therefore we are continuing to monitor closely and proactively follow advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England. We are sharing guidance from Public Health England about preventative steps students and their families as well as staff should be taking.
There is currently no cause for concern at our school, but we will keep you informed about any developments and ensure we keeping the school clean to prevent the spread of any virus.
I will be speaking to all students in assemblies about this advice but please make sure you read the advice and talk to your daughter about it.
Form tutors have asked all students whether they have been to any of the areas listed in either category above. We have also asked all staff this question. If a student or member of staff has returned from one of the category one areas, we will inform the NHS and Public Health England and follow their advice. If you and your daughter have returned from one of the specified countries or areas please contact the school immediately.
What is coronavirus and should I be concerned?
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of this new virus?
The symptoms of this new coronavirus (now known as COVID-19) include fever and respiratory symptoms including coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild.
If you or your daughter have returned from a category 1 country or area since February 19th 2020, you should call NHS 111, stay indoors, and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms:
Category 1 Countries/Areas:
- Iran
- Specific Italian lockdown towns of Bertonico, Casalpisterlengo, Castelgrundo, Castiglione D’Adda, Codogno, Fombio, Maleo, San Fiorano, Somaglia and Terranova dei Passerini in the Lombardy Region and Vo’Eugane in the Veneto Region
- Daegu or Cheongdo in South Korea
- Hubei province
If you or your daughter have returned from a category 2 country or area since February 19th 2020 and develop symptoms, you should stay indoors at home, avoid contact with other people immediately, and call NHS 111:
Category 2 Countries/Areas:
- Cambodia
- China (other than Wuhan City or Hubei Province)
- Hong Kong
- Italy (defined as North by a line above, but not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini)
- Japan
- Laos
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- South Korea (other than Daegu or Cheongdo)
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
How does this new coronavirus spread?
Because it’s a new illness, we do not know exactly how it spreads from person to person, but similar viruses spread by cough droplets or sneeze droplets. These droplets fall on people in the vicinity and can be directly inhaled or picked-up on the hands and transferred when someone touches their face.
How to help prevent the spread of infection
The recommended steps people should take to protect themselves are the same as those to avoid flu and any other similar respiratory infections. You should maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene. Make sure you and your children follow these general principles to prevent spreading any respiratory virus:
- Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
- If you feel unwell, stay at home and don’t attend work or school.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin.
- If you don’t have a tissue to hand, then cough or sneeze into the crook of your flexed elbow onto your sleeve (not your hands).
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home.
- If you’re worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111 – don’t go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment.
- Please call NHS 111 immediately in order for you to be assessed by an appropriate specialist in hospital, as quickly as possible.
What can I do to reduce my risk of catching coronavirus?
There are things you can do to help stop germs like coronavirus spreading:
- Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
- If you don’t have a tissue to hand then you should, ideally cough into your flexed elbow rather than your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport and when returning home from school/work. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid touching other people where you can.
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
- Facemasks play a very important role in clinical settings, such as hospitals but there’s very little evidence of widespread benefit from their use outside of these clinical settings.
- The best way to protect ourselves from infections like coronavirus is to wash our hands frequently with soap and water or use a sanitiser gel, as well as always carrying tissues and using them to catch coughs and sneezes, then putting the tissue in a bin.
While there is currently a low risk from coronavirus to individuals in the UK, the safety and wellbeing of Plashet students and staff is paramount, and we are continuously monitoring the situation for further changes. We will continue to communicate any updates to our guidance via our website.
If you have any further concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school either by telephone, 0208 471 2418 or email, info@plashet.newham.sch.uk.
Today we were privileged to celebrate the achievements of an exceptional group of young women as they move on to the next stage of their life.
This year’s results once again demonstrate the diversity of interests enjoyed by our girls who have attained stellar grades across a broad range of academic subjects. As always, our girls do not shy away from the subjects traditionally favoured by boys and we were delighted that Plashet’s reputation of excellence in the STEM subjects has again been confirmed with 34% of results from examinations taken across the Sciences achieved at grades 7, 8 & 9. Other areas of study share the honours with top grades achieved across 21 subject areas. Overall Plashet girls gained 153 Grade 9s – our highest ever – in the third year of the tougher revised GCSEs.
There are 268 individual stories but four that I will highlight. Mahnoor Akhtar gained 9 Grade 9s and a Grade 8; Noshin Sadia gained 9 Grade 9s and a Grade 7; Shima Mohammed and Habiba Khan both gained 8 Grade 9s and 2 Grade 8s. Truly exceptional results and it seemed fitting, after the country recently celebrated 50 years of The Beatles Abbey Road seminal album, that we celebrate our fab four in this iconic way.
All girls fully embraced our ethos as a school where learning is its own reward. They willingly and enthusiastically gave their full commitment to their studies. In return, our superb team of specialist subject staff have encouraged and supported them. We must not forget that top grades are not the be all and end all, and the School is equally proud of those girls who may not have achieved the highest grades but have surpassed their own expectations to achieve strong personal results. We wish the Class of 2019 the very best for their futures as they head off towards the next chapter of their education and look forward to welcoming them back as part of our Plashet Old Student Association and active alumnae network.
Plashet remains a place that is all about young women – who they are, what they are capable of and what they can become. Open Evening for admission to Plashet School in September 2020 will be held on Wednesday 25th September 16.00-19.00. Please see www.plashetschoolnewham.com for more details.
All examination results remain provisional and subject to change until after the enquiries about the results process is completed.
Rachel McGowan
Head Teacher
We are open as usual on Wednesday 5th June and we look forward to welcoming our students on site from 8.20am.
Dear Plashet Parents, Carers & Students,
Eid-Ul-Fitr is now confirmed as tomorrow – Tuesday 4th June 2019.
School is therefore closed for Years 7, 8, 9 & 10 tomorrow – Tuesday 4th June 2019.
School will take place as normal on Wednesday 5th June 2019 and all students are expected to attend.
As an exam centre all of Year 11 have English Language GCSE Paper 1 on Tuesday 4th June in the morning and are therefore expected in school.
Some Year 11 students also have Music or Business GCSE on Tuesday 4th June in the afternoon.
Those Year 11 students who do not have an exam on Tuesday afternoon will be released to go home after their morning exam.
Best regards & Eid Mubarak to those of you celebrating tomorrow,
Mrs McGowan
Inclement Weather Alert
Friday 1st February 2019
Having reviewed all available weather forecasting for this evening and overnight I have taken the decision that the we will follow our inclement weather procedures tomorrow morning. This allows staff and students more time to get to school tomorrow in what are likely to be icy conditions.
On Friday 1st February school will start for students at 10.00am.
School will end as normal at 3.35pm for Years 7, 8, 9 & 10.
School will end as normal at 4.35pm for Year 11.
Students should wear footwear, such as wellington boots, boots, shoes or trainers with plenty of grip as well as warm coats, gloves, hats and scarves appropriate to the conditions.
152 awe-inspiring grade 9s from state school girls
#Plashet Power
‘There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish’.
Michelle Obama
Thursday 23rd August 2018
Congratulations to all Plashet students on their outstanding results. We are delighted that 40% of all GCSE grades have been awarded 9, 8, 7, A* or A – the top grades. Plashet’s academic strength is especially impressive, with 105 students achieving at least one grade 9 or A*. After weeks of waiting for their examination results, the School is proud and pleased that all of the students’ hard work over the last five years has been recognised.
In a climate when young women pursuing STEM subjects is very low nationally, Plashet is very proud that 1 in 4 of this year’s leavers achieved grades 7, 8 or 9 in 2 or more Science courses and 1 in 3 gained grades 7, 8 or 9 in Maths. A large number will go on to study maths and the sciences at A Level.
We must not forget, however, that top grades are not the be all and end all, and the School is equally proud of those girls who may not have achieved all higher grades but have surpassed their own expectations to achieve strong results – Plashet’s holistic vision of education means that we value highly those who, alongside their academic achievements, demonstrate that they are talented actors, chefs, sportswomen, musicians and artists.
Head Teacher, Rachel McGowan, said: ‘Our girls’ GCSE successes are outstanding, they have worked particularly hard in meeting the challenges of the new more rigorous GCSE examinations and this is even more pleasing because their academic work is just one of the many things they do at Plashet.
There are 268 individual stories but two that I would highlight are Noor Talib who fought cancer throughout Years 10 and 11 and still sat and gained strong passes in all 6 subjects she took and Maimoona Khan who achieved grade 9s in all eight of her subjects, in what is the toughest examination year ever for GCSE students ever.
In their time with us, this year’s cohort have grown into confident and socially aware young women. It has been a privilege for us to both teach them and learn from them and they will all, I have no doubt, excel on their journey beyond Plashet. We wish them the very best for the next phase of their journey.
I would like to thank Plashet staff for inspiring and supporting the girls, their efforts are a crucial element in ensuring that our students, year on year, achieve the outstanding results Plashet is well known for even in a year of the toughest examinations we have ever seen.’
All of examination results remain provisional and subject to change until after the enquiries about results process is completed.
We are open as usual on Monday 5th March, so we look forward to seeing all of our students between 8.20am and 8.45am. All trips and after school interventions will proceed as planned and school finishes at 3.35pm.
