Update on planned return to learning in January and Lateral Flow Testing

The Government’s guidance is that the return to face-to-face sessions should be staggered over a 4-5 week period, with priority given to practical or placement based subjects, to help prevent the possible transmission of COVID-19 following the Christmas vacation period. In addition, Lateral Flow Tests will again be made available to students and staff in this period to help reassure that they are not returning with the virus.

For BGU this means that most programmes will continue to be delivered via remote learning for the first two weeks in January (beginning the 4^th and 11^th) to complete semester 1. This includes the planned assessment week beginning the 18^th which does not require in-person classes.

A return to blended learning, including face-to-face sessions will for many subjects begin from the 25^th of January with the start of semester 2. However, to facilitate the staggered return some subject sessions, as previously timetabled, will not start until the 1^st of February.

Certain subjects are exceptions and will return to placements and in-person activities earlier. These include:

• Programmes with ITE placements starting from 4^th January
• Some in-person sessions for Drama level 4 and Level 5 students

For specific information relating to individual programmes, Joint honours student should check the information for both their subjects as they may start back at different times. Additional information will also be supplied by tutors through Blackboard for students on exception courses needing to return earlier or later than the 25^th January.

From the 4^th January all of our student support services will remain available. You can find the full list of services and their contact details on our Working Together web page.

To help keep the return to learning a smooth process we will again be offering free lateral flow testing to all students and staff. As with the end of term testing this a voluntary process but we would encourage all members of our community to make use of it in the build-up to your programme’s return to blended learning. You can book your appointments by clicking here.