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Group of Abbey DLD students walking

Welcoming Students Safely in September

As summer arrives here in the UK our colleges are busy preparing to welcome back our returners alongside the many new students who will be joining us for the first time in September 2021.

Since March 2021 we have been offering students a choice between face-to-face and online learning. With the success of our Covid-19 secure campuses, we have been able to teach more than half of our students in college through the Spring and Summer terms, prioritising the health and wellbeing of all, whilst also working to ensure all students achieve academic success.

The UK’s Covid vaccination project continues to move at pace, and at the time of writing more than 40 million UK adults, equivalent to 77% of the UK adult population, have received at least one vaccination dose, and more than 30 million, equivalent to 45% of the UK population, are now fully vaccinated.

The UK has vaccinated all high-risk individuals and has invited most UK adults to take the vaccine. At the time of writing, the vaccination is being offered to everyone aged 25+ and will soon be offered to all adults. We expect everyone over the age of 18 to be vaccinated within the next month and ahead of the UK Government’s 31st July 2021 target. This means that Covid-19 cases remain low as the country eases its lockdown restrictions. We expect the UK Government to make a decision on offering Covid-19 vaccinations to under-18’s shortly.

This positive progress means that from September 2021 our colleges will be offering face-to-face learning for all students. To enable a smooth enrolment for all students joining us in September we hope to answer some frequently asked questions:

Will my child be eligible for the vaccine in the UK?

Students are registered with a local GP (general practitioner) when they enrol at Abbey DLD. All UK residents that are registered with a GP (regardless of nationality or visa status), will be invited to take the vaccine when they are eligible. The vaccine is administered by the NHS (National Health Service) and is free of charge. The UK is currently vaccinating those aged 18+, we expect the vaccine will be offered to those aged 12+ from September 2021. Once invited to take the vaccine, the college will assist students with booking their appointment.

Does my child need to be vaccinated prior to arriving in the UK?

No, your child does not need to be vaccinated prior to arriving in the UK

Will my child need to complete quarantine or provide a negative Covid test prior to arriving in the UK?

We will follow the advice of the UK government regarding quarantine. At the time of writing the UK government has stated the following:

Red List Country* Amber List Country Green List Country
Inform Abbey DLD of arrival details at least 48 hours prior to arrival in the UK YES YES YES
Provide proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test (taken within 3 days of travel) YES YES YES
Book & Pay for a Covid-19 test in the UK (day 2 & day *) YES YES YES
Complete the Passenger Locator Form YES YES YES
Carry a copy of the DofE letter when travelling YES NO NO
Travel to their boarding accommodation directly, and via pre-arranged transport YES NO NO
Qurantine for 10 days on arrivalin college accommodation YES YES NO
Complete a Covid-19 PCR test on day 2 & 8 YES YES YES
Remain in quarantine until all students quarantining together, have completed 10 days YES NO N/A
Eligible for the test & release scheme (release after 5 days, day 8 test still required) NO YES N/A

*Please note, some variation for students aged 18+ and travelling from a red list country apply. These will be communicated on a case by case basis.

To check the list your country is on please visit the UK government website. Should the UK government advice change, we will review our policy.

My child is travelling from a red/amber list country, do they need to arrive in the UK before the start of term to complete quarantine?

Students do not need to arrive before the start of term to complete their quarantine. Students are welcome to arrive from the date boarding opens as outlined below:

  • DLD College London – Boarding House opens Monday 30th August
  • Abbey College Manchester – Boarding house opens Saturday 4th September
  • Abbey College Cambridge – Boarding House opens Friday 3rd September

What does quarantine look like at Abbey DLD?

Students from amber & red list countries will quarantine in Abbey DLD accommodation. Students will be collected from the airport by a college representative and will quarantine in the college boarding house with other students, those travelling from a red list country will not be placed with students travelling from an amber list country. During quarantine, all students will receive:

• 3 meals per day
• A full induction and activity schedule
• Regular contact from their house parent
• Access to cleaning materials on request

Please note whilst in quarantine, cleaning staff are unable to enter a student’s bedroom, but will supply fresh linen and towels, and offer a collected laundry service

Students aged 18+, travelling from red list countries are required to quarantine in a hotel according to UK government travel restrictions. Affected students will be advised on a case-by-case basis. You can read more about booking a UK Government approved quarantine hotel here.

What measures will Abbey DLD have in place to ensure a Covid safe environment ?

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, all 3 of the Abbey DLD Colleges have remained open, and we have maintained a Covid-19 secure environment through the introduction of additional safety measures. As we return to full capacity, we will continue to ensure the safety of all students and staff by continuing to implement the following safety measures:

• Student will be met on arrival at the airport by a college representative
• All college accommodation, and communal areas will be deep-cleaned and fully Covid-19 sanitised prior to the student’s arrival
• Covid-19 secure campus measures including thermal cameras on entry, social distancing signage and hand sanitisation will continue to remain in place
• Visitors will be required to complete a Covid-19 test prior to visiting the College

Will Abbey DLD offer online lessons in September?

Abbey DLD will no longer be offering online lessons. Students that have previously studied online with Abbey DLD are required by the UKVI, to resume face to face teaching. All new courses will be taught in person.

Will Abbey DLD allow students to arrive after the start of term?

We understand that for some countries, flights are limited and so students unable to arrive in the UK on the 1st day of term will be welcomed to the college. We encourage all students to try to arrive as close to the start of term as possible and ask that each student communicates with their college, this will allow us to prepare for every student’s arrival.

Will Abbey DLD provide accommodation for students who do not wish to return home at half term or during the Christmas holiday?

Boarding is available at all 3 colleges over the half term break at no additional cost and we will once again be offering accommodation over the Christmas holiday for students who do not wish to return home. More details of the Christmas boarding offering will be provided in future newsletters. Christmas accommodation will be an additional cost.

We are looking forward to welcoming students to our colleges this September. The Abbey DLD Group of Colleges is proud to offer our international students the highest quality boarding school experience, and we believe that face-to-face learning offers students the best chance of academic and personal success.

Whilst we are optimistic that things will continue to improve here in the UK, we are constantly monitoring the Covid-19 situation and are aware that things could change between now and September. We have developed several contingency measures based on our previous experience which can be implemented. We will continue to send updates to you over the coming months.

The future is looking bright, and we hope to see you on-campus again soon!