Head denies intervening in school contact tracing

CITY Academy Bristol’s principal has responded to criticism of his handling of school coronavirus cases.

A whistleblower at the secondary on Russell Town Avenue, Redfield, voiced fears over alleged interventions from principal Jon Angell in the contact tracing process.

They also claim another staff member saw Mr Angell in close contact with two colleagues who allegedly tested positive within 48 hours, but he has not self-isolated.

Mr Angell said the meeting was 72 hours before the colleagues’ tests, adding: “I can confirm that I am not a close contact for any member of staff and have no reason to self-isolate or take a test.”

The school says six of its 874 pupils and five of its staff have coronavirus, while 133 students are self-isolating.

The whistleblower claimed: “When Covid-positive staff have named the people they’ve been in contact with, the head has been ringing teachers.

“He has been just encouraging them to go for a test, even though they’ve been identified as a close contact. They are not being told to self-isolate.

“In most schools, if you’re identified as a close contact by the person who’s tested positive, then you’re not coming in. really strict.

“Mr Angell is ringing round staff and saying, ‘ Do you think you were a close contact?’ If they say no, he will say, ‘Fine, see you on Monday.’”

They claimed six staff members have tested positive in the last week, alleging just two other employees have been identified as close contacts.

“Such a low number of close contacts is because of Mr Angell’s intervention,” they said.

City Academy did not confirm how many staff are self-isolating. It said five currently had coronavirus.

The principal said information has been “misrepresented” and the academy “follows the Public Health England process in all cases”.

He added: “Track and Trace relies on both parties acknowledging close contact. It is important to for staff to reflect on and take account of their own behaviour.”

The source also raised concerns over comments Mr Angell allegedly made to staff at a meeting this week.

They claimed: “Mr Angell said a Year 11 case could be backdated to Monday (November 9), even though they tested positive on Saturday, which would mean pupils being able to come back sooner.

“He also said people self-isolating after being identified as a

It’s close contact could take a test, and if they tested negative, they could come back to school.

“This isn’t correct. It needs to be a 14-day isolation period regardless of whether the close contact tests negative, because it can develop over the 14 days.

“The head had to be corrected by staff at the meeting.”

Mr Angell says there was a staff briefing on November 16, but it “referenced Year 7 cases only”.

Two members of the school’s senior leadership team have tested positive.

“[The senior leadership team] were in a meeting with the head 48 hours before their test, and another staff member saw them within two metres of him,” the whistleblower claimed.

In a statement, the school responded: “The senior leadership team members were tested on Monday (November 16), having had the meeting with the head on Friday. Their results came through on Tuesday. The head has not self-isolated.

“There was a meeting 72 hours before the test. Social distancing of two metres was observed.”

The whistleblower claimed the principal has “encouraged” staff to switch off the Track and Trace app from their phone.

Mr Angell said: “I shared the Department of Education guidance on disabling the app. It is matter of personal choice whether staff have or use the app.”