Further Covid cases reported at Sleaford high school

Yesterday (Thursday), the head of Kesteven and Sleaford High School, Josephine Smith, confirmed a Year 9 student had tested positive for Covid-19 after being part of the government’s random testing programme.

The pupil had last been in school yesterday when she learned the results of the test, which she took on Sunday.

Mrs Smith said the pupil was immediately isolated in their allocated Covid medical room before being collected.

She said: “The school has been in contact with Public Health England. As a result, all students in 9F are to self-isolate from today (Friday). A small number of 9A students and one in 9L are also required to self-isolate. This is because they have been in close contact with the affected student as part of the same Maths, English or PE set, or have been in close contact on the bus or at break time.”

The remainder of Year 9 students can continue to go into school because they have not been in close contact with the affected student. “They have remained in their ‘bubble’ since the start of term and only had passing contact with other students in all other year groups around the school site,” said Mrs Smith.

In addition the school has learned that a further five students in Year 11 have tested positive while isolating after a fellow pupil in their year group was said to have the virus on September 17.

Students in Year 11 have not been in school under self-isolation since September 18 and were due back on October 7 to allow for any other infections to emerge.

Mrs Smith said most of infected Year 11s are in the same form as the first student. “Most describe their symptoms as mild and almost all have joined all the online lessons with their peers,” she said.

This brings the total number of infections in the school to date as eight. The first was in Year 8 in week two of term. The whole of Year 8 self-isolated and saw no further transmission of the virus within this bubble during that time and students have returned.

Mrs Smith commented in her update to parents: “It is clear that responding to cases of Coronavirus is something that schools all over the country are going to be dealing with for some time. It is also clear that the government’s test

and trace system is still in its infancy and that school leaders are spending much time making sure they are following the advice of Public Health England, always prioritising the health and safety of students and staff whilst mindful that our core purpose is fostering the educational progress and mental health and wellbeing of our students.

“We realise how disruptive to family life the need for self-isolation is and will try to maintain face to face lessons for those that have not come into close contact with an affected student. This is much easier to be sure of in Key Stage 3 due to timetabling constructs.

“Outside of the classroom we continue to have a myriad of systems in place to prevent students mixing outside of bubbles. These include strict breaktime bubble arrangements, handwashing routines, sanitiser and wipes used at the start of every lesson and breaks, library and dining room access schedules. We also have strong lines of communication between all three schools in the town and with the transport companies so we can track and trace close contacts on journeys home.

“On the buses Sleafordian Coaches are creating designated year group seats within their buses and coaches. There will be signage displayed accordingly.”

She urged students to stick to their designated year group seats.”

The school has done away with year group assembly gatherings and everyone must wear masks in all communal areas.

Mrs Smith said they continue to have reports of students “not being of the social distancing and bubbles outside of the school”.

She said: “Once away from the school it is the student’s responsibility to self-regulate and remember that they should not be in a group of more than six.”

Parents were asked to remind their children about this to be mindful of the sensibilities of other people in town.