Kettering primary school pupils told to self-isolate after positive Covid-19 test

Pupils in a bubble at a Kettering primary school have been told to remain at home after a positive coronavirus test in one person.

Grange Primary Academy in Jean Road, Kettering, emailed parents this morning (Wednesday, September 9) to say pupils in a Year 1 bubble should stay at home until Friday, September 19.

In an email, the school said: "At present, we have one member of the school community who has tested positive for Covid-19. This person has close ties to our Year 1 bubble.

"As soon as we became aware of this, we contacted PHE for its advice and guidance. PHE has advised us that pupils in our Year 1 bubble should now, as a precaution, remain at home until Friday, September 19.

"This is because Kettering is currently specified as 'an area of concern' following a rise in Covid cases locally and thuse we are subject to greater restrictions than we would normally have expected.

"To be clear, this is a single, isolated case that has occurred within the Year 1 bubble. There is no evidence that it was caught in the school or that anyone else in the school is infected."

Grange Primary Academy told parents that no other year groups or bubbles in the school are affected but a few other members of staff will be isolating at home because they have been in contact with the individual who tested positive.

The email continued: "PHE's advice is very clear: pupils in every other year group should continue to come to school as normal."

Grange Primary Academy said it was unable to comment.

The school is run by United Learning Trust and a spokesman said: "We're not going to get into any public commentary on rumoured or otherwise cases at our schools."

United Learning Trust said all its schools are following PHE and Department for Education guidance.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you