Latest News | Waterside School

Update on HRH The Queen's lying in state

Tue 13 Sep 2022

IF you wish to visit to pay your respects to HRH The Queen, please find details below:

HRH Queen Elizabeth's coffin will move today from Buckingham Palace at 2.22pm to Westminster Hall. Westminster Hall will be open to the public from 5pm and will be open 24 hours until 6.30am on Monday morning.

The update on queuing times etc is that it is expected to be between 8 and 15 hours with an expectation that most will be queuing overnight. There will be little opportunity to sit down as the queue is expected to continuously move forward.

Please find below the route for queuing to pay your respects in person. This has also been sent to parents via Parent Mail. There is a wrist band system, but you will not be guaranteed entry just a right to join the queue.

Items you can and cannot take and how to prepare including how to get a wrist band : Government Website

Transport for London : The updates below still stand but please be aware that congestion is expected to be great.

Tube services are running as normal however, there will be changes to busier stations (Green Park ; Victoria ; Piccadilly ; St James' Park ; Westminster ; Charing Cross ; Embankment ; Waterloo ; Hyde Park and Marble Arch - as to accommodate the amount of visitors expected. Exits and entrances may change and may be subject to trains not stopping/ access not granted if there is overcrowding. Please ensure you know where you can exit either before or after so you can make your journey.
The Elizabeth Line (which has a reduced service usually) will be running a special service throughout the week and weekend with 12 trains per hour on Sunday.
There are already road closures within Central London and these are escalating. Buses may stop before their destination at short notice or be on divert - so please check your route.
Santander cycles will be available but some docking stations (near key buildings) will be out of use.
Some cycle routes will be closed due to road closures.
London River Services will operate as normal but will be busier than usual.

Please use the TfL or City Mapper apps to ensure you have the most up to date information.

Transport Arrangements for the Funeral of HRH The Queen

Mon 12 Sep 2022

Transport for London : We received notice of the expect difficulties - not just on the day of the funeral, but leading up to it - for trains, buses and cars. Below is the latest information and is subject to change:

Tube services are running as normal however, there will be changes to busier stations (Green Park ; Victoria ; Piccadilly ; St James' Park ; Westminster ; Charing Cross ; Embankment ; Waterloo ; Hyde Park and Marble Arch - as to accommodate the amount of visitors expected. Exits and entrances may change and may be subject to trains not stopping/ access not granted if there is overcrowding. Please ensure you know where you can exit either before or after so you can make your journey.
The Elizabeth Line (which has a reduced service usually) will be running a special service throughout the week and weekend with 12 trains per hour on Sunday.
There are already road closures within Central London and these are escalating. Buses may stop before their destination at short notice or be on divert - so please check your route.
Santander cycles will be available but some docking stations (near key buildings) will be out of use.
Some cycle routes will be closed due to road closures.
London River Services will operate as normal but will be busier than usual.

Please use the TfL or City Mapper apps to ensure you have the most up to date information.

Some of our team are taking pupils to visit the flowers on Friday as part of their GCSE work. If you need support to get there, please contact us directly.

Arrangements for the funeral of HRH Queen Elizabeth II

Sun 11 Sep 2022

Funeral of HRH The Queen Arrangements
Dear parent/carer/guardian, As I have no doubt you will have seen on the news and via your social media interactions, the funeral date for HRH Queen Elizabeth II has been released. Over the weekend, the SLT (Senior Leadership Team), Chair and Vice Chair of the Governing Board have been in discussion on how best we can accommodate the wishes and needs of The Royal Family, the expectation from His Royal Highness' Government and yours as the Imperium Federation Family. To this end, please see below our arrangements as well as the public time table published by The Royal Family. If you have any questions, then please do not hesitate to contact me at school.
Friday September 16th
Following discussions with the SLT, Chair and Vice Chair, we will close both Waterside and King’s Oak Schools on Friday September 16th from 12.30pm. This is to enable you and your family (if you wish) and the staff at both schools to pay tribute to HRH Queen Elizabeth II - either by attending her whilst she lies in state at Westminster Hall or marking her life in your own way. As you know for such historic events, we would have organised a visit (if you as parents agreed) but due to the discussions with the Royal Palace and Cabinet Office, we are unable to guarantee an end time (due to the expected crowds wishing to pay their respects) and so it was agreed that by closing early on Friday and seeing that as a school journey opportunity, it gave you, as families, flexibility. School transport has been informed and we will provide a packed lunch for pupils to leave school with on Friday. To assist you, we have placed directions from Plumstead, Greenwich and Eltham to Westminster Hall - where HRH Queen Elizabeth II is lying in state, if you do wish to take your family. If you wish to see the flowers that the public have left (or wish to take some of your own), you will need to stay on the Jubilee line and exit at Queen’s Park. Please find attached photos from Saturday when staff visited.
Monday September 19th
As declared by The Royal Family and His Majesty’s Government on Saturday, Monday September 19th will be both HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and a Bank Holiday. Both Waterside and King’s Oak will be closed and parents will be informed. Tuesday will see a full return to school time table and expectation.
Other Notable Timings/Events
Like ourselves, our pupils are very interested in the ceremonial/constitutional and pageantry of the week ahead, and to this end - please find an overview of what has been published. Timings will be released via all social media channels.
Monday 12th	King Charles III will meet both Houses of Parliament for them to express their condolences. King Charles III, with Queen Consort, will fly to Edinburgh to begin Operation Spring Tide - his tour of the home nations. HRH The Queen’s coffin will move to St Giles’ Cathedral accompanied by King Charles III and members of the Royal Family. HRH The Queen will lie in state for 24 hours so the public can pay their respects. During the evening, King Charles III and the Royal Family will hold a vigil at the cathedral.
Tuesday 13th	Princess Anne will accompany HRH The Queen on her final flight back to London. King Charles III and Queen Consort, will fly to Northern Ireland as part of Operation Spring Tide. HRH The Queen will be taken to Buckingham Palace - welcomed by King Charles III upon his return from Northern Ireland.
Wednesday 14th	HRH The Queen will move from Buckingham Palace - carried on a gun carriage (from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery) and will be followed by The Royal Family. HRH The Queen will be placed on a platform (called a catafalque) and her coffin will be draped in the Royal Standard and topped with the State Crown, orb and sceptre. Westminster Hall (following a service) will be opened to the public to pay tribute to HRH Queen Elizabeth II.
Thursday 15th	This is the first full day of lying in state.
Friday 16th	This is the second full day of lying in state. King Charles III and Queen Consort will travel to Wales as part of Operation Spring Tide. Waterside and King’s Oak will be closed from 12.30pm
Saturday 17th	This is the third full day of lying in state.
Sunday 18th	This is the fourth and final day of lying in state.
Monday 19th	HRH The Queen’s Funeral
Tuesday 20th	School re-opens.
How to get to Westminster Hall
Greenwich	Bus: 422 / 188 / 129 towards North Greenwich Tube : Jubilee and exit at Westminster. Exit through Exit 4 - Bridge Street North - Westminster Hall is 2 minutes walk.
Plumstead	Train : take any overground from Plumstead/Woolwich exit at London Bridge. Tube : Take the Jubilee to Westminster. Exit through Exit 4 - Bridge Street North - Westminster Hall is 2 minutes walk.
Eltham	Train : take any overground towards Charing Cross exiting at London Bridge. Tube : Take the Jubilee to Westminster. Exit through Exit 4 - Bridge Street North - Westminster Hall is 2 minutes walk. Or Train : take any overground to Charing Cross. Walk : it is a 12 minute walk from Charing Cross to Westminster Hall.

Do you have the passion to be a Governor? We need you!

Fri 09 Sep 2022

WE NEED YOU!

Have you always wanted to make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable but amazing young people within education?

Do you have the passion and skills to work with a committed team of educators who never give up on our pupils even when others have?

We are looking for new members to join our Governing Board and help continue the transformational work the federation has achieved.

If you would like to discuss the role further, then please do not hesitate to contact me at the school.

Isn't it time you unleashed your inner super hero?