Wodensborough Ormiston Academy, Wednesbury (Image: Google)
Hundreds of children are being forced to self-isolate after coronavirus cases were confirmed in schools across Birmingham. Schools across the region have been hit by positive coronavirus test results, leading to pupils being told to stay at home.
Children at a school in Sandwell, as well as Hall Green, have been affected by positive tests. The details emerged on Monday as data showed the Birmingham case rate had soared to around 50 cases per 100,000 people.
Birmingham, Sandwell and Stoke-on-Trent are three areas in the West Midlands on the government ‘watchlist’.
Fears of a second lockdown in the region are now intensifying.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has urged young people – the group where most new cases are being seen – to act responsibly to avoid infecting older relatives, who may become more ill with the disease. The UK saw its biggest daily figure since the height of the lockdown in April, with 3,000 cases recorded yesterday, Sunday, September 6.
A total of 27 affected youngsters at Wodensborough Ormiston Academy in Wednesbury have been forced to self-isolate following a positive case. In a letter sent to parents on Monday, September 7, principal Leigh Moore said: “We have been informed the student did not contract the virus at school, however, we have been working with Public Health 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. As a result, the school is safe to remain open and we will be welcoming students back in today.
“The students and families of those who are now self-isolating have already been informed and will be accessing remote learning from home to knit any disruption to their education.
“I completely appreciate and understand that there are already some inevitable anxieties about returning to school this September, given the current circumstances we find ourselves in.
“However, would like to reassure you that we are doing all we can to ensure everyone’s safety and will be continuing to closely follow and implement advice from the experts to maintain this.
“It is important that students, staff and the wider school community remain vigilant and continue to uphold the various safety protocols in place both within school but also when out in the wider community. “We would ask families to inform us as soon as possible if they are contacted via track and trace in relation to activities taking place outside of the academy.”
King Edward’s Five Ways School
Year ‘bubbles’ at two city schools have been sent home to quarantine after pupils reported positive tests for coronavirus. Students in Year 8 and Year 11 at King Edward’s Five Ways School in Birmingham were told to self isolate this morning after one pupil in each year group reported they had received a positive test result over the weekend.
Head Yvonne Wilkinson said the school, which only reopened on Thursday, had been informed of separate cases affected two unrelated pupils in the two year groups today.
Hall Green infants and Hall Green juniors
It was the same situation at Hall Green infants and Hall Green juniors, in Petersfield Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, with Year 1 infants and Year 3 juniors affected.
A return to school for years 3 and 4 at Yardley Wood community primary school was reportedly delayed after a teacher tested positive for the virus. Enforced quarantine for healthy kids is being repeated across the country, with dozens of schools reporting a single case that triggers sending home a year bubble.
Lakey Lane
Pupils in a Year 1 class at a primary school in Hall Green are self-isolating after a pupil tested positive for Covid-19.
Louise Jones, headteacher of Lakey Lane Primary School, wrote to parents informing them of the decision to close the affected class to both staff and pupils.
Her letter said a parent had also tested positive for coronavirus.
Both staff and pupils in the Year 1 class are now self-isolating for 14 days.
Woodrush High
A Year 7 class at Woodrush High School in Wythall are also self-isolating for 14 days after a pupil tested positive for coronavirus. A spokeswoman for the school said: “On Sunday 6th September, we were in contact with Public Health England regarding a confirmed case of COVID-19 within our school.
“The measures the school has taken, including the use of consistent class setting, has meant that the impact on students and staff has been kept to a minimum.
“Whilst we have been told the risk to others remains low, as a precaution, on the advice provided by a senior practitioner in PHE we have informed the relevant staff and one form in year 7 to self-isolate for 14 days.
“We understand there was a lot of speculation on social media around this matter. We would encourage all our parents /carers who have any concerns to contact the school directly and avoid the mixed messages which can sometimes be presented on public social media platforms.
“The wellbeing of our students, staff and local community remains our priority and we will continue to work with PHE and Worcestershire LA to monitor the situation.”
Source: Birmingham Mail