Guidance for staff

Face-to-face teaching and other socially distanced activities have now resumed on campus with protective measures in place.

Everyone who plans to come to campus should have a Covid-19 test before entering the College. Thereafter, we strongly advise the entire RCM community to participate in twice-weekly testing at one of many local testing centres or using home-testing kits available to all students and staff.

The health and wellbeing of the RCM community is our top priority and protective measures have been put in place to help ensure the safest possible use of the building at this time. This includes requiring all staff and students to wear facemasks and adhere to two metre social distancing on campus. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Covid-19 – what to do if you have symptoms

If you are an RCM student, professor or staff member and you experience symptoms of Covid-19, you should take the following steps as promptly as possible:

• ISOLATE yourself from others
• NOTIFY us using the Covid self-reporting form
• Book a TEST

If you think another student or member of staff might have symptoms, you should encourage them to do the same. Further information is available in each of the guidance sections below.

Complete the Covid self-reporting form

Latest Covid-19 updates from the RCM

The RCM has plans in place for a number of scenarios including coronavirus cases on campus and changing government restrictions. The following plans are in line with guidance from the UK Government.

RCM students, RCMJD students, professors and staff members who experience symptoms of Covid-19 must self-isolate, notify the RCM using the Covid self-reporting form and book a test.

Complete Covid self-reporting form

In the instance of confirmed or suspected cases, the RCM will communicate with individuals directly. No wider communications will be sent to the College community. Students and staff who are self-isolating will be fully supported by the RCM.

In the event of several confirmed cases at the College, action may be taken to further reduce activity on campus. Operational changes will be communicated via RCM Notices so please continue to check your College email.

Twice-weekly and home- Covid-19 testing

The entire RCM community is strongly advised to participate in twice-weekly testing at one of many local testing centres or using home-testing kits available to all students and staff. 
 
For free home-testing kits delivered directly to your home address, order here. Home-testing kits can also be collected from the RCM cafe or a participating testing facility (the Ismaili Centre is the nearest to the RCM.) Prince Consort Village residents will receive their kits at PCV.
 
If you do not wish to self-administer home tests, then you must continue to be tested at the Ismaili Centre (or another local testing facility or the University of London.)

TESTING INSTRUCTIONS

• Test yourself at home or visit a testing centre twice a week

If testing at home, you are asked to self-administer the test at least twice a week (every three to four days) and wait at home for a negative test result before coming to College. The tests are quick and simple and are provided with easy-to-follow instructions. You can watch video instructions here. Your test should be ready within 30 minutes.

• Log all your test results

Each time you take a test, log the results using this simple form. Every test result (positive/negative/void) should be logged. You should log the result of your test whether you used the home-testing kit or were tested as a local facility such as the Ismaili Centre. Try to plan your week so that you take the test on the morning you plan to come to College and log it by 9am, unless you have taken a test in the previous few days. 

Complete the test results form

You should also report your test result to the NHS. You should report every result as soon as you get the result. To make this easier, set up an account so that you don’t need to register each time. You can register and report your results to the NHS here:

Report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

RCM buildings and services

RCM campus

• The RCM campus is open for individual music-making and solo study, one-to-one instrument lessons, some faculty classes and ensemble rehearsals.
• The RCM Library is open on weekdays between 1pm and 5pm.
• Campus is open for educational activities between 8am and 10pm, six days a week.
• You must only come to campus if you have a specific activity or room allocated in advance via Asimut.
• Face coverings must be worn at all times indoors, except when performing in an ensemble, during one-to-one lessons and for solo performers working with a pianist – providing two-metre distancing is maintained.
• Always wash your hands on entering the building and regularly throughout your time on campus.
• You must not socialise in groups in the indoor communal areas on campus. Groups of up to six can sit together in the outside café Courtyard.
• If you feel unwell, you must stay at home. 
• All practice rooms must be booked in advance via Asimut and performance spaces can be booked via P&P. Signs on the doors display the maximum occupancy of each room.
• Please wipe down surfaces and pianos when leaving a practice room.
• The buildings are subject to enhanced cleaning regimes and rooms are being ventilated via open windows and air conditioning which circulates air from outside.
• Most professional services continue to operate and provide support remotely. 

The Royal College of Music has undertaken all necessary risk assessments for reopening the RCM, maintaining social distancing and other public safety measures.

Reopening the RCM risk assessments

Learning and teaching

One-to-one teaching, faculty classes and academic classes

• Students can work with an accompanist on campus, although external accompanists are only allowed with prior agreement from P&P, V&O and Faculties Office.
• Some live faculty classes and ensemble rehearsals are taking place on campus with social distancing in place.

Practical examinations

• Summer term performance examinations will go ahead in person, with video submission options available for students who are unable to return to London.

Impact of operational changes on your work

Professional services staff  

Most professional services staff will continue to work from home, except where they are required on-site to facilitate students' return to campus and activities.

We expect more student-facing roles to return to on-site working from 8 March and staff who are needed on-site will be contacted by their line manager. If there is a specific reason to remain at home, this should be discussed with your line manager in the first instance. Our aim is to support and enhance the student experience as much as possible.

Academic staff

Whilst we encourage face-to-face teaching from 8 March, it is your choice and we will support you if you wish to continue teaching remotely for reasons relating to Covid-19 or you have been advised to work remotely on health grounds. Professors should notify their Heads of Faculty if this is the case before contacting their students directly to arrange to continue virtual lessons.

Casual workers

Casual workers are engaged across the RCM in a variety of roles. We are honouring our commitment to these members of staff and paying at the normal rate of pay. You will continue to be engaged to support teaching and learning across college as required. 

New members of staff

Your employment with the RCM will be effective from the date specified in your contract of employment. You should liaise with your line manager to ensure that your details are entered onto the RCM systems to allow you to start working remotely and ensure payment of your salary can take place.

Pay in event of illness or caregiving

Travel

The government is currently advising against all but essential international travel. ‘Essential travel’ includes travelling for educational or work purposes.

Whilst government measures require those arriving in, or returning to, the UK to complete are quarantine period, staff who travel overseas on leave will need to either:

• work from home if this is possible; if you have returned to on-site working you should seek approval in advance to return to homeworking for the quarantine period.
• book additional days holiday to cover the quarantine period.
• take unpaid leave for the quarantine period.

Visit gov.uk for the latest advice on international travel

Support

Supporting students who are worried about coronavirus

• We know that many staff will be approached by students with concerns about coronavirus. If a student raises a concern, please ask them to follow the advice on this page.
• If they have any questions, they should contact Student Services at studentservices@rcm.ac.uk.

Supporting colleagues who are worried about coronavirus or working remotely

• If a team member or colleague raises a concern, please ask them to follow the advice on this page or speak to Human Resources at humanresources@rcm.ac.uk.

Support for you

• Whilst working remotely, it is a good idea to keep in contact with team members as much as possible through phone calls and conference calling on platforms such as Microsoft Teams.
• We would encourage staff to interact regularly with their colleagues and speak to their line manager if they are concerned about their mental or physical wellbeing.
• If you are concerned about coronavirus or worried about friends and family, please do not hesitate to contact Human Resources for advice and support at humanresources@rcm.ac.uk.
• Staff can access mental health support via Confidential Care.

Prejudice connected with coronavirus

• The Royal College of Music has a zero-tolerance policy towards racism. If you witness or experience bullying or harassment, your voice will be heard and taken seriously.
• Staff can contact Human Resources for advice and support at humanresources@rcm.ac.uk.

Further questions

Contacts as follows

• Heads of Faculty
• Heads of Programmes
• Personal Advisors
• Student Services (studentservices@rcm.ac.uk)
• Students’ Union (SU.President@rcm.ac.uk)

If you are an international student with questions or concerns about visas, please email the Registry international team at international@rcm.ac.uk for advice and support.