Key Announcements and Updates
In-Person lessons allowable from May 2021 for all students (children and adults) who want them; online lessons also continuing.
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 by Ross Hammond BSc (Hons), MBCS, PGCE, MISM | COVID-19 Update
Update: From 1st May 2021
In-person lessons are able to take place for all students, both children and adults, without criteria restrictions from the 1st May 2021. This has been confirmed by the ISM and the Government and they have issued guidance accordingly. In-person lessons must still be COVID-19 secure, and will follow many of the same procedures are before to ensure the safety of everyone. Online lessons will also continue as usual and therefore, students wishing to have an in-person lesson should follow the procedure for doing so on page 4 of the below risk assessment.Please take the time to read the below risk assessment in full if you are intending on having an in-person lessons as it will be an expectation on any student attending in-person to follow these procedures.
COVID-19 Risk Assessment (Updated May 2021)
COVID-19 Secure Poster
Update on COVID-19 Restrictions for Private Lessons
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 by Ross Hammond BSc (Hons), MBCS, PGCE, MISM | Uncategorized
Update on COVID-19 Government Regulations - March 2021
I am pleased to inform you that following conversations with my regulator, the ISM, I have been informed that I am permitted to teach face to face lessons to children (below the age of 18) from May 2021 - subject to the Government sticking to their roadmap out of lockdown, any changes to this roadmap may affect this date.The previous COVID-19 secure safety protocols will remain in place, including the wearing of face masks, these can be viewed on the COVID-19 page on the website along with a risk assessment which will be updated in April ahead of May 2021. Please note that parents will not be permitted to sit in the teaching room during lessons due to the lack of space for social distancing.
At this time, I am not anticipating that all students will return to face to face lessons, as many students have stated that they prefer their lessons online e.g. they live too far away; online is more convenient for some etc. Therefore from May 2021, students who are 18 years of age or younger may decide to attend their lessons face to face or online as they wish, but you must inform me if you intend on having a lesson face to face, before the day of your lesson.
Of course, as per normal, should a student become unwell, your lesson will take place online instead if you were intending on a face to face lesson on any particular week.
What about adults who have lessons?At this time, the Government has not provided any information on adults having face to face lessons and therefore adults' lessons will remain online. I am presuming that in June 2021, subject to all restrictions being lifted, adults will be allowed to return to face to face, again at the choice of the student. I will confirm more on this, once I receive further information.
Students may chose between online and in-person lessons again
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 by Ross Hammond BSc (Hons), MBCS, PGCE, MISM | COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update - Wednesday 2nd December 2020
As I am sure you are all aware by now, the national lockdown will end on Wednesday 2nd December 2020 when the country will move to a new tier system.
Firstly, I hope you are all safe and well - we have made it through a second lockdown (just about!).
Currently, Gloucester is going to be set at tier two and I have been in consultation with my regulator's legal team since Monday to discuss what this means for my teaching practice, with particular reference to whether or not in-person lessons are permitted.
My regulator, the ISM, have concluded from the guidance and other Government advice sought, that I am permitted to teach a limited number in-person lessons subject to being COVID secure and provided that I wear PPE and socially distance whilst teaching. They recommend that where students are being taught online they continue this as in-person lessons may be subject to short notice cancellation, should Government departments change their rules at the last minute (we all know they have a habit of doing that!). My regulator will update me immediately should this happen.
Therefore from Wednesday 2nd December, all as before, students may chose between in-person or online lessons as they wish. For students wishing to have an in-person lesson, they must:
- Text message the day before their booked lesson, to request it to be in-person (I must carry out COVID secure checks). If an in-person lesson isn't requested the day before, I will assume you wish to have your lesson online.
- Follow the risk assessment (to be updated - COVID-19 page) at all times, which includes: students being collected at the brown doors; only students being permitted in the teaching room and wearing a face covering (unless medically exempt - proof may be required)
Best wishes,
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Small change to in-person lesson choice - due to the second national lockdown in England.
Sunday, November 1, 2020 by Ross Hammond BSc (Hons), MBCS, PGCE, MISM | COVID-19 Update
I am writing to all students and parents to let you know how the national lockdown in England may impact your lessons for November.
The National lockdown is scheduled to last from Thursday, the 5th of November to the 2nd of December 2020.
For students who are taught online
The vast majority of students have all continued to have their lessons online and this will continue as normal and unaffected.
For students who only have in-person lessons
For the small number of students who have in-person lessons, your lessons will take place online from Thursday 4th November 2020 until 2nd December 2020. However, if I receive permission from the regulator to continue teaching in-person throughout the lockdown as the service falls under education, I will let you know individually. If you do not have access to Skype (free), FaceTime (free to Apple users) or WhatsApp (free) then please contact me and we will put an individually tailored plan in place for November.
Students with upcoming examinations
As theory exams are all online and Piano exams fall outside of this national lockdown period your exams should remain unaffected. Should this change, I will be in touch.
Examinations for Winter 2020 Confirmed
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 by Ross Hammond BSc (Hons), MBCS, PGCE, MISM | Examinations Update
Examinations for the Winter Period of 2020 have been booked and confirmed.
All students / parents who have returned their examination data return in August can now log onto their online portal (use menu above) to access your examination information and connected document(s).
We are currently awaiting the following information from the examination board:
Time:
The exam board will confirm the exact time fir the date of the booked exam later in October.
Examiner:
The exam board will confirm who your examiner is (practical exams only) closer to the examination date.
Music theory candidates:
Students taking a music theory exam of grades 1 to 5 will all have their examination administered online, further details to follow. They do not need to attend the venue shown on their documentation, a venue just had to be chosen to book the exam in their systems and the closest one was Hereford.
Changing the exam date:
Students can request for us to change the exam date up to 48 hours before the exam, after this window has passed we can no longer change the date on the exam board systems. Dates changes are subject to change and may result in a different venue completely. Cancellation due to COVID has different terms applied by the exam board and further details about this are on your confirmation letter.
