Over 40 schools hit – but number of cases ‘is low’
Officers are confident in measures to reduce risks
MORE than 40 schools and colleges have reported coronavirus cases among pupils and staff since returning for the autumn term
Education officials at Leicestershire County Council confirmed there had been 26 Covid-19 at 25 county schools since classes resumed.
In Leicester, there have been virus cases identified at least 19 schools, with about 900 pupils told to self-isolate for a fortnight.
Council officials and education bosses have sought to reassure parents the number of cases and schools affected remain small given that 400 schools across the city and county have welcomed back about 150,000 pupils for the new term.
County council cabinet member for children and families, Councillor Deborah Taylor, said: “Since schools reopened, we’ve been made aware of 26 cases of Covid-19 infections reported in 25 schools.
“The number of confirmed cases remains low given the thousands of children that have returned to school and we want to reassure families these are single cases and not outbreaks occurring at schools.
“We are confident schools have taken a number of measures to prevent the spread of Covid and will continue to do so over the forthcoming months.
“The safety of pupils is paramount and it is vitally important children are in school to continue with their learning as well as to support their wellbeing.
“We urge parents to be vigilant in checking for any symptoms using government guidance.”
Sue Welford, Leicester City Council’s principal education officer, said: “We are very pleased to have about 90 per cent of our 57,000 pupils and students back at school and enjoying school life.
“Although we’ve had a small number of mainly one-off cases over the past two weeks, less than 2 per cent of pupils have been asked to self-isolate as a result of this, thanks to the hard work of head teachers and school staff and the support of our public health team and Public Health England to ensure schools remain safe spaces.
“It’s vital for the health and wellbeing of our children that they do come to school, and parents should be reassured that schools have very good systems in place, and when pupils are sent home it is being done as a preventative measure while a risk assessment and contact tracing is carried out.
“In many cases most students are able to return to school once this has been done.”
The government has made it mandatory for pupils to return to classes this term but both the city and county councils have said fining parents who do not send their children back will be a last resort after discussing individual circumstances where there are concerns.
THIS is a summary of all the confirmed virus cases associated with schools that our sister paper the Leicester Mercury has so far been made aware of by either a council, schools themselves or through letters to parents:
Fridat
■ ■Fullhurst, Braunstone: Teacher tested positive, Year 10 pupils selfisolating
Thursday
■ ■Judgemeadow, Evington: Pupils in Year 10 and pupil in Year 11 tested positive, year group bubbles selfisolating
■ ■English Martyrs, Beaumont Leys: Year 9 pupils test positive, class bubble self-isolating
■ ■Wyvern Primary, Rushey Mead: Single case, staff and pupils selfisolating
■ ■New College, New Parks: One staff member and one student test positive
■ ■Ellesmere College, Rowley Fields: Member of staff tests positive
■ ■Orchard Mead Academy, Hamilton: One student confirmed with the virus
■ ■Merrydale Junior, Humberstone: A single pupil case
■ ■Mowmacre Hill Primary, Mowmacre: Pupil with Covid-19
■ ■Catherine Infants, Belgrave: One pupil with the virus
■ ■Crown Hills College: One student with Covid-19
Wednesday
■ ■Falcons Primary, Humberstone: Teacher infected, Year 4 children asked to self-isolate
■ ■Countesthorpe Leysland: Staff member case, three other colleagues self-isolating
■ ■Wigston College: Year 12 pupil tests positive and year group sent home to self isolate
■ ■Croxton Kerrial Primary: Case identified within school, school closed
■ ■City of Leicester College, Evington: Year 10 student tests positive, classmates sent home to self-isolate
Tuesday
■ ■Shenton Primary, Spinney Hills: Member of school community tests positive, some staff and pupils selfisolating
■ ■New College, New Parks : A “number of staff” test positive. One pupil subsequently tests positive
■ ■Highgate Primary, Sileby: Confirmed case, small number of children selfisolation
■ ■Woodbrook Vale, Loughborough: Single pupil confirmed with virus, half of year group sent home
■ ■Barlestone Primary: Pupil confirmed with Covid-19 and others who have had prolonged contact told to self-isolate
■ ■Blaby Stokes Primary: Year 3 pupil tested positive. Year bubble told to self-isolate. Parents told siblings can attend as normal
■ ■Medway Primary, Highfields: Parents urged not to panic after Year 5 pupil tested positive. Year bubble selfisolating
Monday
■ ■Gartree High, Oadby: Year 10 pupil tested positive prompting the rest of the year being told to stay home until September 21
■ ■Beauchamp College, Oadby: Year 10 pupil tested positive – student was only present for one day and had “minimal, socially distanced” contact with staff
■ ■Oxley Primary, Shepshed: Pupil tests positive, classmates self-isolating
■ ■Brookvale, Groby: “low risk” to students after three staff told to selfisolate
■ ■Castle Rock, Coalville: Classes asked to stay home on Monday and await further instructions
■ ■Blackfordby C of E Primary: Closed to allow for a deep clean and await further instructions
■ ■All Saints C of E Primary, Sapcote: Child tested positive
■ ■Overdale Infant, Knighton: Year 1 child with virus
■ ■Humberstone Junior Academy: One child confirmed with Covid-19, bubble self-isolating
■ ■Bosworth Academy, Desford: One student with coronavirus confirmed over the weekend who did not go to school
■ ■Lancaster Academy, Knighton: A single virus case in Year 10, students sent home to self-isolate if they had had prolonged contact
Friday, September 4
■ ■Winstanley School, Braunstone Town: Student tests positive but did not have symptoms in school