the new normal - on campus and online 

Following the UK government's latest announcement relating to the lifting of COVID-19 measures and social distancing laws, Point Blank Music School is excited to welcome students back on to campus full-time. From Monday 19th July, students will be welcome to attend all classes on campus again and will no longer need to attend remotely on alternative weeks from home - unless they would prefer to do so. Students will be also able to book Studio Lab Time on campus as usual.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

• The current "one week on campus, one week at home" rota system will be suspended so that all students can study on campus every week if they wish to do so
• Blended learning via the virtual classroom will continue throughout the term for those students who can't, or would rather not, attend classes in person
• The use of face coverings whilst inside the School is strongly encouraged out of respect for those classmates who wish to comply - but is no longer compulsory
• Social distancing measures will be lifted so students can collaborate in Studio Lab Time again and class sizes can return to pre-pandemic levels (16 max)
• Students will need to take two Covid-19 tests per week as before and will also need to complete the weekly Covid-19 screening form as before
• We will encourage all students to download the NHS Covid-19 app and check in each time they come to campus using the QR codes displayed at the entrances
• Facilities will continue to be regularly deep cleaned with antibacterial “fogging” of the building to ensure safety
• 1-2-1s and singing classes will continue to be delivered remotely for now

We will be monitoring Government advice closely and will review these arrangements again should the situation change.

If you have any questions or need more information on the changes outlined above, please email: support[@]pointblankmusicschool.com.

IN-PERSON CLASSES:  All classes in music production, DJ skills, singing, songwriting, and music business are now available for in-person attendance with strict safety guidelines and precautions in place. If you’re interested in in-person attendance, please call an Admissions Advisor on 323.594.8740 for information.

VIRTUAL CLASSES: In addition to the in-person option, most classes will also continue to be delivered online in our highly interactive Virtual Classrooms. Please watch the videos on our Virtual Classrooms for more details and call an Admissions Advisor at 323.594.8740 or contact us for more information.

Point Blank remains absolutely determined that no applicant will be disadvantaged by the current crisis. We are currently reviewing all of our admissions processes and requirements in the light of the cancellation of exams to limit the impact on our future students, including looking at different ways to assess your application beyond results.

Our Admissions team are open as usual and are on hand to give you all the support you need and answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, please click here for more information on our normal entry requirements.

Contact our Admissions team with any questions or concerns by emailing admissions[at]pointblankmusicschool.com or calling us on 020 7729 4884.

Anyone returning to the UK or planning to travel abroad should follow the latest official advice:

View the latest Foreign & Commonwealth travel advice.

Advice from the Home Office

Some Tier 4 students or Tier 2/5 employees may be prevented from attending their studies or employment due to illness, the need to serve a period of quarantine or the inability to travel due to travel restrictions caused by coronavirus.

Sponsors do not need to report student or employee absences related to coronavirus which they have authorised.

Sponsors do not need to withdraw sponsorship if they consider there are exceptional circumstances when:

• A student will be unable to attend for more than 60 days

• An employee is absent from work without pay for four weeks or more

Decisions on whether to withdraw a student from their studies or terminate an employment are for sponsors to make.

The Home Office recognises the current situation is exceptional and will not take any compliance action against students or employees who are unable to attend their studies/work due to the coronavirus outbreak, or against sponsors which authorise absences and continue to sponsor students or employees despite absences for this reason.

The Home Office will keep this under review, especially if the length of absences means a potential repeat of period of studies become necessary.

General Support 

For general support students should contact their institution’s wellbeing support services or phone UKCISA’s Student Advice Line on +44 20 7788 9214 (1–4pm UK time, Monday–Friday).

If you are unable to attend classes because you are in an affected area or are following advice from Public Health England, this will be considered an authorised absence, and it should not affect your visa in most cases.

You need to contact support[at]pointblankmusicschool.com to tell them that you are absent and the reason why, as well as an expected return date (if you know it). They will update your attendance record to show that your absence is authorised.

We do not anticipate visa implications for most Tier 4 students with quarantine or travel restrictions. But if you will be absent from study for more than 60 days (including any absences for other reasons before the quarantine/travel restriction began), you may need specific advice. 

For immigration support, please call the Coronavirus Immigration Helpline on 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or email CIH[at]homeoffice.gov.uk. 

Is Point Blank open?

Our London School is fully open in-line with the latest UK Government advice. We will also continue to deliver courses remotely via the Virtual Classroom in addition to onsite delivery. Our Los Angeles school is also delivering courses on campus, but again, will continue to deliver classes remotely via our Virtual Classrooms also. Our school in China is open subject to social-distancing measures. Our school in Ibiza will be offering a limited courses this summer, subject to local and international guidance.Our school in Mumbai is currently closed.

What precautions is Point Blank taking?

Point Blank’s Executive Team is overseeing and monitoring the situation. We have been meeting regularly to assess the impact and to determine appropriate actions and conducted a full risk assessment to ensure every precaution has been taken. Please see our COVID-19 Risk Assessment which is being continually updated to respond to the evolving situation. We will continue to closely monitor this in coordination with the government and health authority advice, live-updating this document and keeping you informed in the process.

Where we are delivering teaching and services on campus we are following strict social-distancing measures and monitoring the latest advice and guidelines. For both virtual and on site delivery we will be consulting with our students, gathering their feedback and working with them to ensure their safety and maintain an outstanding student experience.  

What is the risk to students and staff?

As the situation develops we encourage everyone not to panic, but to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from the virus by following the advice issued by the NHS, Public Health England and the WHO. If lockdown and social-distancing guidelines are followed and everyone looks after each other the risk is manageable. 

Should students and staff wear masks?

Yes. When using public transport, or in enclosed spaces the NHS suggests that everyone wears a face covering of some kind to help protect against the transmission of infected droplets to venerable areas such as the mouth, nose and eyes. If you are in any doubt, follow the latest Government advice, or contact our support team for more information. 

Who should students and staff contact if they are feeling unwell?

In the first instance, students should call their GP or NHS 111 for advice, but SHOULD NOT attend their GP practice or NHS drop-in centre in person without first seeking advice. Secondly, staff and students should inform the School as soon as possible following the standard reporting procedure. 

The Department for Education (DfE) helpline answers questions about COVID-19 related to education for concerned students, parents and staff. You can contact the helpline by calling 0800 046 8687 (Monday to Friday from 8am-6pm) or emailing: DfE.coronavirushelpline[at]education.gov.uk. 

You can find the latest information and advice on COVID-19 and guidance for educational settings at GOV.UK.