Guidance for staff

The RCM campus is open with protective measures in place for individual music-making, one-to-one teaching and small ensemble rehearsals and performances.

The RCM will remain open for educational activities with our current robust safety measures in place for the remainder of the autumn term and Christmas vacation. RCM Junior Department activities are currently being delivered digitally.

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, avoid mixing households 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.

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. More information can be found below.

In the instance of confirmed or suspected cases, NHS Test and Trace and 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 reduce activity on campus and further teaching may move online. Students and staff affected by these measures will be communicated with directly by their Head of Faculty.

Operational changes will be communicated via RCM Notices so please continue to check your College email.

RCM buildings and services

RCM campus

• The RCM campus is open for individual music-making (including with an accompanist), one-to-one teaching and small ensemble rehearsals and performances.
• Campus is open for educational activities between 8am and 11pm, seven days a week.
• You must only come to campus if you have a specific activity or room allocated in advance via Asimut.
• You must wear a facemask on entering the College, when moving around campus and in any spaces where two metre social distancing is not possible.
• Always wash your hands on entering the building and regularly throughout your time on campus.
• You must not socialise in groups in the communal areas on campus.
• 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 (principal, second & related studies) and academic classes

• The RCM campus is open for one-to-one teaching for senior College students and professors. We have implemented robust social distancing and cleaning measures in the buildings, including a one-way route and maximum room capacities.
• You must wear a facemask in all public areas on campus, including teaching rooms where two metre social distancing is not possible.
• Teaching and practice rooms must be booked in advance.
• Faculty classes will normally be split between online and in-person delivery, except conducting and composition faculty classes, which will be delivered online. Classes that take place onsite will be recorded and published on Learn.rcm.
• During 2020/21, academic and contextual teaching will be delivered using a blended approach that combines in-person and online delivery. During the autumn term, most modules will be delivered through Learn.rcm, with online classes delivered with Microsoft Teams. We plan to return to in-person delivery of all teaching as soon as possible. 

Performance programme

• Our performance programme is live with social distancing measures in place, prioritising the health and wellbeing of our community at all times. The programme initially focuses on solo and chamber performances, broadening out to orchestral music, festivals and fully staged operas as the academic year progresses.
• We have found ways to facilitate student music-making both with classmates and the roster of celebrated visiting artists who will be coming to the College to work with us.
• Visiting artists for 2020/21 include Rafael Payare, The Harlem Quartet, Martyn Brabbins, Jac van Steen, Jon Wilson and Gianandrea Noseda.
• Many of our upcoming projects will use blended approaches with both live and digital interacting, harnessing all the additional benefits online resources can bring.
• Our autumn events season includes specially commissioned films based on celebrated RCM composers, including Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Elizabeth Maconchy, and an expanded programme of streaming and recording to share our performances, masterclasses and other activities with global audiences.

Impact of operational changes on your work

Professional services staff  

• We anticipate that most professional services staff will continue to work from home in the autumn.  
• We hope that everyone is mindful of good working practices and has set themselves up to work from home as comfortably as possible. If, for any reason, you are unable to work from home, please discuss this with your manager so that we may identify who would benefit from an earlier return to working on campus and assess whether it is possible.  

Academic staff

• You are now able to deliver one-to-one lessons in person to your students on campus.
• Professors should not feel any pressure to return to campus – digital delivery continues to be our main method of teaching throughout the summer term.

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. 
• Casual workers 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, although travel to some countries and territories is currently exempted. ‘Essential travel’ includes travelling for educational or work purposes.

Whilst government measures require those arriving in, or returning to, the UK to self-isolate at home for 14 days are in place, staff who travel overseas on leave and who will have a quarantine period on their return 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.
• 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.

Support for you

• 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

If we have not answered your question please email coronavirus@rcm.ac.uk.