The College will communicate with all applicants, students and apprentices via their Lewisham College email or chosen email. All public announcements, such as site closure will also be communicated via this website. Please do not rely on social media or local news for information.
Thank you for your continued patience in these unprecedented and challenging times.
Covid-19 Variant
Staff and students who live in identified areas in London are being asked to be extra cautious to stop the Covid-19 variant in its tracks. Under this new guidance all staff and students who live in the identified area should work from home and get a test at an NHS test site.
To view the full list of identified areas please visit the government website here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/surge-testing-for-new-coronavirus-covid-19-variants
Update
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding the reopening of schools and colleges, Lewisham College began welcoming students back to campus from Monday 8 March.
Due to the size of Lewisham College, students were not able to return on the same day. Students were invited back in groups and return dates depended on which course a student is enrolled on.
Students received an email communication explaining the process for safe return to campus. Tutors also sent further information with specific return details for each course and an invite to attend campus for an initial Covid-19 test.
We want to reassure everybody that safety remains our highest priority and safety measures will continue to be in place across campus for the foreseeable future. Further safety information is detailed below. This page will continue to be updated in the coming days and weeks.
Students should already be set up to continue learning from home and will be contacted by tutors and teachers directly with details of lessons and remote study. If you have any questions or concerns about accessing remote sessions please contact us.
If you are currently undergoing a work placement or attend work as an apprentice, you should continue to attend unless you are told otherwise by your employer.
Please read the attached document for our full Remote Education Offer.
If you are a Higher Education student further information is also available on the attached letter from the Principal.
16-19 Tuition Fund 2020-21
Lewisham College has received funding to support catch-up tuition to small groups of students who have been disrupted by the pandemic. Students will be offered a range of support which you can find in the 16-19 Tuition Fund Statement.
Cancellation of Vocational Exams
Since the government announcement to close colleges on Monday 4 January, we have been closely following the Department for Education instructions and guidance.
We were informed on Tuesday 5 January that colleges must decide for themselves whether to go ahead with vocational exams scheduled and that students who do not attend will not be disadvantaged.
There are many benefits to continuing with exams, but in light of the national lockdown, a new variant of Covid-19 and high transmission rates across the UK, we do not feel it is right to ask students to travel to attend exams. This is particularly true now that we have received confirmation that students will not be disadvantaged from a cancellation.
Therefore, in line with a large (and growing) proportion of the FE sector, we have now taken the extremely difficult decision to cancel all exams scheduled, except for those students who will have the choice of sitting the second part of a two-part exam.
How grades will be decided
Read through this letter for an important update on how grades for Functional Skills, Vocational Qualifications and GCSEs will be determined this year.
Reporting a positive Covid-19 test result
The College has introduced a centralised reporting process for staff and students who wish to report positive tests and/or that they have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace.
If you are a member of staff or a student you should report your result to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. which is monitored every day (Monday to Sunday). This will help us make sure that students and staff are contacted in a timely manner should they need to self-isolate.
Safeguarding
If you need any support or have any further questions about learning remotely, please speak to your Tutor in the first instance.
If you have any concerns about your safety or that of others, contact a Safeguarding Officer on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Applications and Enrolment
Applications remain open online for all courses with admissions staff processing them using our online systems as normal. Further information on applying for a course can be found at www.lewisham.ac.uk/apply.
The College will also continue to process enrolment appointments. Please visit www.lewisham.ac.uk/enrolment to find out what you will need to bring and additional health and safety arrangements on campus.
If you have any questions about an existing application or are not sure what to study and need further information, advice or guidance then please contact us.
On campus
All staff, students and visitors to Lewisham College buildings will be asked to:
- Maintain social distancing and general principles of personal hygiene
- Keep to limits on the number of people in rooms and lifts
- Follow signage/guidance and not move furniture from the places in which it has been set out
- Wear a face covering in situations where this is required to unless exempt. You can read the full guidance here.
Further Information
You can read more about our Health and Safety measures on the following leaflet: Staying_COVID-19_Secure_in_2020.pdf
The safety and wellbeing of our students, apprentices and staff is at the forefront of any decision we take. We realise that we may need to adapt if the government and Public Health England advice changes and we will be putting plans in place to do this if necessary. We will review this regularly and will only remain open if:
- All Government guidance can be met, in full.
- Individuals, College areas and work tasks have been risk assessed and appropriate mitigation measures are in place.
- Full consultation has taken place.
- The Principal, supported by the Executive Leadership Team and the College Board, authorises the action.
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Exam results 2019/20
To be sure that we keep all of our students and staff safe at this time, we sent results out to current students by post or by providing digital access to results through the exam board websites. Find out more about how to collect your exam results or the exam appeals process by visiting our exams page.
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Definition of vulnerable students and children of critical workers
Vulnerable students
Vulnerable students include those who have a social worker and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans as well as children in need, children who have a child protection plan and those who are looked after by the local authority.
Children of critical workers
A definition of critical workers is contained here:
Further guidance for parents and carers is available here:
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International travel and College trips
If you are planning to travel to other countries, please follow Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice and consult Government guidance on your return. Please also inform the College before returning to a College site.
All College trips and visits have been cancelled until further notice.
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If you feel unwell
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough and/or high temperature. Follow the Public Health England advice if you or someone you live with present with symptoms. You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after seven days, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
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Further Information
The DfE launched a helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)You can also find the latest information updates on COVID-19 here.
