School reopens doors after its Covid ‘circuit-breaker’
AROSSENDALE high school is set to reopen after using half- term as a circuit breaker to help bring down Covid cases among its pupils.
Haslingden High School announced on Monday, May 24 that it was to close from the following day for the remainder of that week due to a sudden rise in cases of coronavirus among pupils and staff.
The decision was made early to try and keep infections to a minimum and take advantage of the extra week out of school during this week’s half- term break from May 31 to June 4.
“Headteacher Mark Jackson has today ( June 4) confirmed the high school will reopen from Monday, June 7 despite Rossendale having the third worst infection rate in England.
“The infection rates in Rossendale continue to be a concern and the latest data indicates the area continues to have the third- highest rate in the country, behind only Blackburn and Bolton,” Mr Jackson said.
“Given the high infection rates in school and the apparent increased rate of transmission, I believe the decision to close school on Tuesday 25 May and provide a 13 day ‘ firebreak’ was the right one and will have broken any schoolbased chains of infection.”
Mr Jackson has told parents that “despite speculation in the local press this week, Lancashire County Council has no plans to close schools and are very keen to offer their support in helping our students return to school in as safe a way as possible on Monday”.
This comes after National Education Union officials called on Lancashire schools to remain closed for another week after halfterm to act as a circuit breaker and stop the transmission of Covid19 cases among young people.
But Mr Jackson said: “Public Health teams across the country are clear that they believe the key to overcoming the pandemic lies in vaccinating all adults and regular testing of children and adults.”
Following conversations with Lancashire’s Deputy Director of Public Health, Haslingden High School will reopen with pupils taking twice weekly lateral flow tests with one having to be done on Sunday evenings and the other recommended for Thursday.
Positive tests should then be followed up with PCR tests.
“If your child feels unwell DO NOT send them into school,” Mr Jackson said.
“Instead, you should keep them at home and book a PCR test, even if they do not exhibit the classic symptoms (high temperature, cough or lack of sense of smell or taste.)
“Students should continue to follow the protective measures we had in place prior to halfterm, including regular hand washing/ sanitising, wearing face masks whilst indoors and minimising contact with others wherever possible.”