COVID OUTBREAKS AT 30+ SCHOOLS

MATTHEW SIMPSON looks at how the coronarivus has affected schools since term began...

AS CORONAVIRUS cases continue to rise across the country, more and more schools in Stoke-on-trent and Staffordshire are being forced to send children home to self-isolate.

Since pupils returned to their classrooms in September, more than 30 schools across the area have reported Covid-19 cases among staff and students.

And as we approach halfterm a further eight schools in the county were revealed to have been affected last week, including two in neighbouring Cheshire East.

Here is a list of the schools and colleges across the county known to have had coronavirus cases since the beginning of term.

STOKE-ON-TRENT

Belgrave St Bartholomew’s Academy, Longton; Birches Head Academy;

Discovery Academy, Bentilee;

Excel Academy, Sneyd Green;

Hanley St Luke’s CE Aided Primary School; Heron Cross Primary School; Meadows Primary Academy, Blurton; Ormiston Horizon Academy, Chell; Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy, Blurton;

Sandford Hill Primary School;

Star Academy, Sandyford;

St Gregory’s Catholic Academy, Longton; St Joseph’s College, Trent Vale;

St Mary’s CE Primary School, Tunstall; Weston Infant Academy, Weston Coyney.

NEWCASTLE

Chesterton Community Sports College; King’s CE School, Kidsgrove; Madeley School; Newcastle College; Orme Academy, Wolstanton

St John Fisher Catholic College, Newcastle; St Mary’s Catholic Primary School;

STAFFS MOORLANDS

Biddulph High School;

Blythe Bridge High School; James Bateman Middle School, Knypersely;

Leek High School; Moorside High School, Werrington; Woodhouse Academy, Biddulph.

STAFFORD

Doxey Primary School; Stafford College;

King Edward VI High School, Stafford. EAST STAFFORDSHIRE

JCB Academy, Rocester;

St Mary’s CE First School, Uttoxeter. CHESHIRE EAST

Alsager School; Sandbach School; Shavington Primary School.

TWO people were arrested for drug supply offences.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said they were taken into custody on Saturday evening. He added that the offences related to Class A and B drugs.

CASES: The Discovery Academy in Bentilee and, inset, Newcastle’s St John Fisher Catholic College are among the schools that have been affected by Covid-19.