Pupils isolate as 14 schools hit by Covid

Fourteen Fife schools and one nursery were affected by cases of Covid-19 last week which resulted in people being asked to isolate.

NHS Fife confirmed that pupils or staff at seven secondary schools and seven primaries had tested positive and contacts had been asked to isolate between Monday April 19 and Sunday April 25.

One nursery, in Kirkcaldy, also had a case in this period.

The following schools saw five or more people required to isolate after contact with a positive case:

● Auchmuty High School, Glenrothes

● Beath High School, Cowdenbeath

● Camdean Primary School, Rosyth

● Canmore Primary School, Dunfermline

● Dunfermline High School

● Fair Isle Family Nurture Centre, Kirkcaldy

● Glenrothes High School

● Kirkcaldy High School

● Kirkcaldy West Primary School

● Madras College, St Andrews

● Pitreavie Primary School, Dunfermline

● Pitteuchar West Primary School, Glenrothes

● St Columba’s RC High School, Dunfermline

● St Leonard’s Primary School, Dunfermline

● Thornton Primary School Schools in the kingdom reopened on April 12 after the two-week Easter break.

It was also the first time all secondary pupils were in school full-time this year. Primary school pupils in the region had previously returned full-time between February 22 and March 15.

NHS Fife releases information about Covid-19 cases connected with schools and nurseries where five or more school contacts have been asked to isolate as a result of contact tracing.

It also provide resources for parents in Fife, with information on how best to reduce the chances of contracting the virus.

People with symptoms of Covid-19, regardless of how mild, are reminded to immediately self-isolate and order a test on the NHS inform website or by calling 0800 028 2816.

The latest cases hit as secondary schools embark on assessments for senior pupils whose exams have been cancelled due to the pandemic.

However, concerns have been raised over the assessments, with some pupils dubbing these exams in all but name.

There are concerns, too, over the impact on pupils who are having to isolate because they have tested positive for the virus or are a close contact.

SQA guidance, published on the organisation’s website, states that assessment opportunities should not be one-off, highstakes scenarios and should accommodate, as far as possible, the maximum opportunity for learners to perform well.

St Columba’s RC High School in Dunfermline.