Covid at Paisley Grammar

Education bosses have refused to say if the person identified with Covid-19 at a Renfrewshire high school was taking part in the home testing initiative.

Test and protect officials notified the parents of students attending Paisley Grammar that an individual infected with the virus had been on campus as it closed for the Easter break.

The case was identified while only a fraction of high school students were permitted to be in class and social distancing was being maintained in schools.

All high school pupils will make a full-time return to the classroom on Monday.

It comes a week after Renfrewshire Council confirmed that a larger than average number of covid cases in the local authority earlier this month was due to a higher infection rate in 11 to 17 year olds.

At home testing - currently being undertaken by teaching staff and senior students - will be rolled out to all high school pupils and help identify covid cases before they reach the classroom.

But Renfrewshire Council has said it will not confirm if the affected person at Paisley Grammar had been taking part in this programme.

While it has been offered to all those on S4 to S6, pupils in S1 to S3 were given a few hours of face-to-face learning before schools broke up two weeks ago.

A spokeswoman for Renfrewshire Council said it “can not comment on individual cases”.

She said: “At-home testing kits for secondary school pupils, which weren’t available when secondary schools reopened last August, are already identifying people who have coronavirus much earlier as well as those who are asymptomatic.

“Parents and carers can support our schools and nurseries by following the FACTS guidance – wear a face covering, avoid crowded areas, clean hands and surfaces often, keep twometres physical distance from others, and self-isolate and book a test if they develop symptoms.”

Secondary schools are making arrangements to start testing for S1 to S3 pupils from Monday, with pupils and parents to be informed of these arrangements by their child’s school.

Children will also be asked to wear face masks during all lessons and in communal area, such as corridors and the canteen.