Coronavirus (Covid-19): Latest Information

We are strongly encouraging all RCA staff and students in the UK to get fully vaccinated (two doses) and boosted, which is the most effective way to protect yourself from the virus and prevent transmission to others. 

Getting vaccinated is important in keeping our community and loved ones safe from the effects of Covid-19. You don’t have to wait to be contacted by the NHS to access a vaccine and we encourage all students to take up the offer of all doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Find out more here or by calling 119 in the UK. If you need additional support please contact the RCA's Student Support team via [email protected].

As well as being fully vaccinated, students and staff can continue to support in the fight against Covid-19 by:

• If you do test positive for Covid-19, Government guidance will be to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least five days. We would strongly recommend that staff and students follow this advice.
• Taking a lateral flow test if you have been in close contact with a Covid-19 case.
• While the UK Government no longer officially advises wearing face coverings, the College continues to strongly recommend that staff and students continue to wear face coverings in communal areas and teaching settings on campus. Staff and students who wish to continue to wear face coverings will be supported to do so.
• Other areas such as good hand hygiene, cleaning and sanitisation remain important, and the RCA will continue to provide these facilities and services across our campuses.

Students can access support by:

• Contacting RCA’s Student Support Team and resources through Moodle and/or attend a virtual drop-in session on Mondays from 10am-12pm, Wednesdays from 3.30–5.30pm and Fridays from 1–3pm.
• Accessing TogetherAll, an online service operating worldwide, which is there to help support your mental health, 24h a day. To join, simply go to their website and sign up under ‘organisation’ with your College email address.
• Reaching out to the RCA Student's Union.

Staff can access support by:

• Speaking with your Line Manager
• Using the Employee Assistance Programme

Within its guidance for the Higher Education sector, the Government is very clear that there are now no Covid restrictions that apply to the sector, and that institutions should deliver face-to-face teaching without any restrictions. The latest guidance is here.

We are currently engaged in on-campus teaching, learning and assessment in accordance with Stage 2 of our Academic Delivery Plan.

The health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority and we will continue to follow UK Government guidance on the pandemic.

What if there are further restrictions?

Should the UK Government introduce further national or London-specific restrictions in the 2021/22 academic year, the College reserves the right to adapt teaching delivery and access to campus. Depending on the restrictions in place, this could be a blended or wholly online approach which could also limit workshop access.

• Staff and students, please check the intranet regularly for updates and detailed information. 
• Answering applicants' questions

From Monday 24 February 2022, the UK Government further relaxed of the Covid-19 restrictions. This means that currently:

• If you do test positive for Covid-19, Government guidance will be to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least five days. We would strongly recommend that staff and students follow this advice.
• Contact tracing has now come to an end, and you will not have to take lateral flow tests if you have been in contact with someone with Covid-19 - however, should you wish too, lateral flow tests are available to purchase from pharmacists and other retailers. We would recommend that staff and students take a lateral flow test if you have been in close contact with a Covid-19 case.

See the latest NHS information and advice on Covid-19, and the latest guidance from Gov.uk.