Trinity’s COVID-19 update (Nov 2020)
What’s been happening at Trinity through the autumn term? What will a second lockdown in England look like at college?
[Read our current risk assessment]
In developing our COVID response, Trinity has remained committed to the importance of learning in community and maintaining our physical community as much as we can whilst following safety precautions and government regulations.
In early September, Trinity reopened for Welcome Week and classes, with new safety measures in place. We installed a temporary marquee on the lawn in advance of Welcome Week, with sides that could be rolled up to provide an open-air space regardless of weather, to make space for socially distanced student gatherings.
In September and October, lectures met in person, with tutors teaching behind Perspex sheets to socially distanced students. All lectures have been made available virtually through Zoom for those who are shielding or isolating. The college is operating a one-way system to minimise traffic in the corridors. Students have met together as tutor groups in larger rooms that allow for distancing, rather than in tutor studies.
While we cannot currently gather all together for lunch, students and staff have been pre-ordering lunches that are collected and distributed by tutor groups through tiffin tins. These are washed and returned to the dining room for re-use. The tiffin tin system has enabled us to maintain the quality of our food as a way of communicating love and care for those within our community.
We have creatively met for Morning Prayer together, with only the tutor group leading worship and two other tutor groups physically present in the chapel to enable social distancing, the rest of the tutor groups watching a livestream in the dining room, and those unable to be physically present at college participating through a livestream on Trinity’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/trinity-college-bristol).
Our Student Exec have also planned creative ways in which students could socialise within the guidelines, including pub trips in groups of six, organising walks in groups of six, online games, and students could book a spot to attend an ‘Autumn Evening,’ with outdoor bonfire gatherings at college.
‘It was a great relief to many students when we learnt that Trinity was putting in measures to keep us safe, while also enabling in-person study,’ says Student Exec President Claire Welch. ‘For many students, the community is one of the key attractions to studying at Trinity. It has been encouraging to see how well everybody has adapted to the changes and relationships begin to form across the year groups. We really appreciate the effort the faculty have made to offer a blended approach (in-person and virtual) to access lectures. This gives students choice to access classes in a way that suits their situation.’
During this month-long second lockdown in England, our community will temporarily attend lectures and meet for tutor groups through Zoom, though students will still have access to their studies and the library. We will continue to participate in chapel together in the mornings through livestreams on YouTube. Our tutors and Trinity’s chaplains will be available to students who could use added support during a second lockdown. To socialise together as a community, we will be hosting weekly online coffee breaks on Tuesdays and Fridays. We are also looking forward to welcoming prospective students to our online Open Day this Saturday, 7 November!
If you are a current student with questions, please contact sophie.davis@trinitycollegebristol.ac.uk. If you are a prospective student with questions, please contact admissions@trinitycollegebristol.ac.uk.
Posted 4 November 2020