Hundreds of pupils back home as schools hit by positive tests
Students just returned to county classrooms now self-isolating
HUNDREDS of pupils are facing a further two weeks off lessons within days of going back after fellow students and staff members tested positive for coronavirus at numerous schools.
In line with government guidance, pupils in the same bubble as someone who tests positive for Covid-19 have to stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days.
Schools where cases have already been confirmed include Beauchamp College, Oadby; Brookvale Groby Learning Campus; Castle Rock, Coalville; Blackfordby Primary; All Saints Primary in Sapcote; and Overdale Infant School, Knighton, Leicester.
In a statement, Beauchamp College said: “We appreciate this is an unwelcome disruption for students in this bubble but the safety of students, staff, parents-carers and the wider community is our first priority and we must follow the guidance from Public Health England.”
Students can still attend classes at Brookvale Groby School, despite three staff being told they must selfisolate after one tested positive.
The Mercury understands the school was deep-cleaned over the weekend before pupils were back in class.
A letter sent to parents from headteacher Will Teece said: “We appreciate this will be worrying news for many of you and you will naturally have questions that you wish to be answered.
“We wish to reassure you we are doing all we can to follow the guidance and ensure we mitigate the risk as far as we reasonably can.”
A school recently visited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also among those where some pupils have been asked to stay home.
Castle Rock, in Coalville, said in a letter to parents on Sunday: “The health, safety and well-being of our students is paramount.
“Please be assured that we have sought immediate advice from Public Health England and we are continuing to closely follow the published government guidance.”
The letter continued by stating that students in certain named classes and groups remained at home and that each parent would
be contacted to let them know their child should self-isolate.
The letter said staff who may have been “in contact” with a staff member who tested positive have already been contacted by the NHS Test and Trace process.
A Year One pupil tested positive for the virus at Overdale Infant School, prompting the whole year group to be kept at home on Monday.
After that precaution, two classes out of four in Year One will have to stay at home for two weeks.
Chairman of the trustees, Ross Grant, said: “We can confirm that one child who attended school has tested positive.
“We are following Public Health if
England guidelines the side of caution.”
Mr Grant, who has a son in the affected year group, said: “We have a system in place to deal with this and the measures have kicked in smoothly.
“Obviously, we have children who now have to stay at home for another two weeks, having missed a lot of school already.
“Staff will be making sure parents have the support and resources needed to continue learning at home.”
Leicestershire County Council said it is so far aware of nine confirmed cases since schools reopened over the past fortnight.
A spokesman said: “We’ve been made aware of cases of Covid-19 infections reported in nine schools. However, we are not commenting on individual cases.
“All of the schools have taken appropriate action and are liaising with Public Health England.
“The safety of pupils is paramount and we urge parents to be vigilant in checking for any symptoms.”
Our sister paper the Leicester Mercury has asked the city council for the same statistics. but erring on