By Sammie Jones-
A secondary school in Sandwell has seen twenty-seven pupils and one staff member self-isolating after a student tested positive for coronavirus at a Sandwell secondary school today.
Unaffected pupils are encouraged to continue attending school, and those self-isolating will be taught from home.
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The news comes amid revelations that Covid-19 infections are rising among young people, leading to warnings that the beginning of the University term could potentially increase the spread of Covid-19 in the Uk.
In a letter sent to parents on Monday, the school’s principal Leigh Moore: “The student did not contract the virus at school, however, we have been working closely with Public Heath Sandwell to follow all necessary measures in light of this news.
“We have been able to respond immediately by identifying 27 students and one staff member who now need to self-isolate for 14 days, as a precautionary measure.
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“As a result, the school is safe to remain open and we will be welcoming students back in today.” As pupils returned to schools this week, strict rules including mask wearing and social distancing plans are being implemented in a number of schools, but it is doubtful that many pupils will stick to those rules during their lunch breaks when they are on their own.
Self Isolation Ordered In Welsh Schools
Elsewhere in Wales, two schools have been told to self-isolate for two weeks following confirmed cases of Covid-19.
On Monday, the Welsh Government announced that more than £2.3 million had been committed to provide free face coverings for all secondary school and further education students.
Coronavirus cases have also been confirmed at three schools in the area around Middlesbrough. St Benedict’s RC Primary School in Redcar, St Aidan’s CE Primary School in Hartlepool, and Outwood Academy Ormesby in Middlesbrough have all seen positive cases – but they will remain open.
The National Education Union (NEU) have called for a “more robust and accessible” test and trace system after it said it had heard reports of teachers being told to travel hundreds of miles for a test.
Five members of staff at Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk recently tested positive for Covid-19, with the academy closed on Monday on the advice of Public Health England. The school said the closure was a “precautionary measure” and it hoped to reopen on Tuesday.
Cardiff Council announced on Monday that 30 pupils from Ysgol Bro Edern had been asked to self-isolate for 14 days following the confirmation of a case.
Headteacher Iwan Pritchard said the school had contacted all pupils within the student’s class bubble “as quickly as possible” and additional cleaning had taken place.
A class of 21 pupils at St Gwladys Primary School in Bargoed, Caerphilly, were also told to self-isolate for two weeks after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, the return to school for some year groups was delayed at Ysgol Bryn Castell in Bridgend, and Ysgol Maesteg after members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
Middlesborough Schools
Coronavirus cases have also been confirmed at three schools in the area around Middlesbrough.
St Benedict’s RC Primary School in Redcar, St Aidan’s CE Primary School in Hartlepool, and Outwood Academy Ormesby in Middlesbrough have all seen positive cases – but they will remain open.
The JCB Academy in Rocester, Staffordshire, closed on Friday after a pupil tested positive for coronavirus – and around 100 students were told to self-isolate.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “We need a far more robust and accessible trace track and test system with testing centres within a reasonable distance.
“We are hearing stories of teachers being told they must travel hundreds of miles for a test – the Government must act on this immediately.”
The union is calling for the Government to plan for outbreaks – by employing more teachers and looking for additional space – to ensure that young people’s education is as “uninterrupted as possible”.
“The Government cannot side-step its responsibility, leaving schools and colleges to carry the can for its inadequate preparations,” Mr Courtney added.
It is therefore likely that disruption will continue over the coming weeks and months
Geoff Barton, Association of School and College Leaders
Mr Hancock suggested that affluent youngsters have helped to propel the rise in cases as he implored people to stick to social-distancing measures.
Speaking on LBC radio on Monday, he said “nobody wants to see a second wave” in the UK and that a recent surge in cases was “concerning”.
There were a further 2,988 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Sunday – the largest daily figure since May.
Mr Hancock admitted that there have been “operational issues” over testing, when probed about people being asked to travel long distances for tests.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said it is “impossible” to eliminate entirely the risks of transmission either in school or the wider community.
He added: “It is therefore likely that disruption will continue over the coming weeks and months.
“This shows the necessity for a robust contingency plan in case students are unable to take GCSE and A-level exams next summer or their preparation is significantly disrupted.
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