More schools see Covid cases among students

On Monday, St George’s Academy reported it had a positive test for a Year 8 student and a Year 7 student as well as further spread in Year 11 at its Ruskington Campus, with Principal Laranya Caslin saying the overall picture for the county was “worsening”.

Ms Caslin explained: “There is now evidence of transmission within the Ruskington Campus across more than one bubble. This is deeply concerning and so the Senior Leadership Team and chair of Governors, supported by the county, have taken the decision to close the Ruskington Campus for the remainder of the half term. All lessons will be delivered remotely for the remaining three days of term and students should check their emails for instructions from their teachers.

“We will undertake an extensive deep clean and re-open after half term.”

She advised students to avoid interaction outside school during this period to create a ‘circuit break’ for the virus and all students will return in November. Ms Caslin added: “This is not a decision taken lightly.”

The school has made face coverings mandatory in corridors.

Kesteven and Sleaford High School on Monday announced a Year 13 student had tested positive, requiring 27 students to isolate. A Year 11 student and a Year 10 student tested positive last week resulting in 25 Year 11 and all Year 10 pupils isolating until after half-term. It brings the number of infected students in the school this term to 12, plus two teachers.

Carre’s Grammar School has also sent some pupils home after a confirmed case.

Headteacher Nick Law said: “We were notified of a positive case on Saturday and were able to identify the close contacts with the student over the requisite time period as instructed by the Health Protection Team, Lincolnshire. This meant that we had to contact the parents of those students with whom he had close contact, including those who had been on the school bus. As a result we have had to ask 28 students in Year 12, with some of these being at Kesteven and Sleaford High School given the nature of the SJSF, and four in Year 4 to isolate for the remainder of this term. Over the last few days these students have been accessing their lessons either live through Microsoft Teams, or online through work set and assessed on Microsoft Teams.”

A Year 11 student has also been sent home.

Sir William Robertson Academy in Welbourn last week sent its Year 12 and 13 pupils to work from home after a student tested positive.