Leeds Beckett University responds after student party held in Leeds accommodation block breaks Covid lockdown restrictons

Students have been included in this week's "stay at home" lockdown announcement from Boris Johnson which means they have now been told to remain where they are wherever possible.

New household mixing bans also mean that students cannot meet with other students outside their household.

However, photos and videos which have circulated online show students crammed into a flat having a wild party on January 5,which was after the Prime Minister's announcement and therefore the students appear to be breaking the lockdown rules.

Footage shows dancing crowds with no social distancing or face masks and Snapchat video captions included the likes of 'Boris said what?' and 'What was that Boris ahahah'.

In response, Leeds Beckett University said: “The health and wellbeing of our students, staff and the wider community is of the highest priority to us.

“All students have been made aware of their personal and collective responsibility when it comes to safety, social distancing and government guidelines on Covid-19.  

“Where concerns are raised with regards to any breaches of the rules we act swiftly to thoroughly investigate and take action as necessary.”

A security guard appears to try to shut down the party towards the end of one of the videos but the loudly singing students do not take notice.

The new lockdown rules mean that students will begin their terms online until at least mid-February, returning to online coursework and lecturing rather than attending face-to-face teaching.

--> Leeds students react to online learning

There are some exceptions to teaching restrictions: specific courses such as medicine & dentistry, subjects allied to medicine/health, veterinary science, education (initial teacher training), social work, and courses which require PSRB assessments are able to return to face-to-face teaching as planned.

Those that are still having face to face teaching must be tested twice upon arrival or self-isolate for ten days. Students eligible for face-to-face teaching can meet in groups of more than their household as part of your formal education or training, where necessary.

No further measures or support for students has been included within the government's guidance but Leeds Beckett University has become the first university in the UK to introduce a safety net policy.

Each year of university is made up of 120 credits but the safety net put in place by Leeds Beckett means that only the highest 60 credits are taken into account when calculating the students overall grade for the academic year.

In an email sent to all students, Vice- Chancellor Peter Slee wrote: “We also want to confirm that from today, we are reintroducing the changes to the University Academic Regulations that we approved during the first wave of the pandemic.

“This ‘safety net’ means, in summary, that undergraduate students will progress or achieve an award, based on your best 60 credits (with equivalents for taught postgraduates) and that ‘Category A’ extenuation will automatically apply to all students without the need for you to apply for mitigation.”

The University of Leeds has announced that it will give appropriate rent refunds to those in allocated accommodation but nothing has yet been announced by Leeds Beckett or Trinity University.