Sleaford high school year group to self isolate after pupil tests positive for coronavirus

In a letter sent home to parents today (Friday) Head of Kesteven and Sleaford High School, Jo Smith said all Year 8 students should self-isolate for the next seven days with immediate effect.

She said: “Today (Friday) we have received news of a confirmed positive test for Covid-19 for a Year 8 student who was last in school on Friday September 11 and began feeling unwell that evening.

“We have been alerted to this today.”

Mrs Smith the testing agency only informed the student’s parents of the results today. There have been well documented cases of families struggling to get booked in for the Covid test and trace system with a backlog building up at labs.

The 143 Year 8 students should not come to school, go to public areas and exercise should be taken within the home for the next seven days.

Mrs Smith said the school is monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with Public Health England and will re-open to Year 8 students on Monday September 28. “This is because students should isolate for 14 days after contact with a student displaying symptoms.

“We are confident that Year 8 students 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. The student has no other siblings in any other secondary school in the town and does not travel to school by bus.”

All students and staff in school next week will be expected to wear a face covering in corridors and communal areas inside the school buildings. Parents are being asked to supply a face mask or visor and a plastic bag that their child can store this in during lessons.”

She added: “We have planned for this eventuality and teachers will be ready to deliver lessons to Year 8 via Microsoft Teams throughout the week. Students should join every online lesson they can and attendance will be monitored. PE lessons won’t be available live. If any staff teaching your child are unwell they will post a message to students to let them know they won’t be live and tasks will be set as assignments on Teams instead wherever we can.”

Further questions can be answered by referring to https://web.kshs.uk/data/website/Covid-19/Covid%20Guide%20FAQ.pdf

Students in other years are expected to attend school as usual.

If your child develops symptoms of Covid-19, they must not go to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection