Putting on a School Concert

If you're planning a concert this term, what should you be considering?

Planning a Christmas or Winter celebration is difficult at the best of times, but when you add in a global pandemic, it can make matters almost impossible. A school carol service, nativity play or an end of autumn term concert are important parts of the school calendar and give students the chance to show a different side of their school life to their family and friends.

Although many COVID-induced restrictions have been lifted, there is still much uncertainty about what is safe to do. In this article, Handsam aims to guide schools through the process of making sure your performance is safe and successful.

The guidelines

Currently, there are no government/DfE guidelines specifically for school productions. Unfortunately, this only adds to the uncertainty that school staff feel about mounting this kind of event. Schools are urged to use the guidelines for events and visitor attractions in the Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance. The priority actions are broken down into six key areas:

1. Risk assessment

A risk assessment is vital for any sort of school event. Aside from the specific COVID related guidance (of which, more later) schools should consider how they will deal with attendees (and staff and students) with disabilities.

2. Turn away people with COVID-19 symptoms

Anyone who has a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste should self-isolate and take a PCR test. They must also self-isolate if they have tested positive for COVID-19, live in a household with someone who has symptoms (unless they’re exempt from self-isolation), or has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

3. Provide adequate ventilation

You should make sure there is a supply of fresh air to enclosed spaces where there are people present. This can be natural ventilation through windows, doors and vents, mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts, or a combination of both. You should identify any poorly ventilated spaces in your premises and consider steps you can take to improve fresh air flow in these areas. In some places, a CO2 monitor can help identify if the space is poorly ventilated.

4. Clean more often

You should ask your staff, performers and audience to use hand sanitiser and clean their hands frequently, and provide them with advice to promote good hygiene. If you are doing multiple performances of your production and they are open to the public, a thorough clean must be undertaken after each performance.

5. Enable people to check in at your venue

You are no longer legally required to collect contact details, however, doing so will help to support NHS Test and Trace to reduce the spread of the virus. You can enable people to check in by providing an NHS QR code poster, though you do not have to ask customers to check in or turn them away if they refuse. If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system to collect (and securely store) names and contact details for those who ask to check in but do not have the app.

6. Communication

Pre-event communications can be a particularly effective measure for events.

Visitors will be reassured if they can access details of the robust measures you are taking to make sure they (and their children) are safe. You should also:

• Consider how you can inform visitors of any changes to processes in advance of their visit, for example on your website, when booking by phone or email, and in your digital marketing;
• Ensure you make any entry requirements (such as the NHS COVID Pass - see below) clear to customers before booking, and at the point of sale;
• Take steps to remind visitors of special measures if they are complex, varied or likely to be forgotten. For example, you could reinforce messages on signs through spoken communication from a greeter, or other staff such as ushers;
• Think about how to communicate important information to all of your customers, for example those who do not speak English as a first language, and those with protected characteristics (such as people who are hard of hearing or visually impaired);
• Encourage customers to follow good hygiene practices, such as using hand sanitiser when they enter the building and washing their hands regularly; and
• Consider how to ensure safety messages reach those with hearing or vision impairments.

Hygiene and ventilation

Good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing, play a crucial role in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Schools should ensure that handwashing and hand sanitiser facilities are checked and refilled regularly and that any equipment placed is accessible to (and does not impede) wheelchair users.

Maintain good hygiene practices, such as encouraging staff and customers to use hand sanitiser and wash their hands regularly. You could use signs and posters to build awareness of good handwashing technique, the need to increase handwashing frequency, and good hygiene practices like avoiding touching your face and coughing or sneezing into your arm. Consider how to ensure safety messages reach those with hearing or vision impairments.

In enclosed spaces (such as indoor settings, or indoor areas of outdoor venues), ventilation is an important control measure to reduce the risk of aerosol transmission of COVID-19. You should consider how best to increase ventilation in your facility, to maximise the supply of fresh or cleaned air.

Try and open doors, windows and air vents where possible, and ensure extractor fans work effectively. You should take particular care to keep toilets and shower facilities well-ventilated, as these can be areas of higher risk. If you’re using mechanical ventilation, ensure that your systems are set to maximise fresh air and minimise air recirculation.