Pupils self-isolating after Covid-19 case at Rothwell school

Some students at a Rothwell school have been told to self-isolate after a pupil tested positive for Covid-19.

Montsaye Academy in Greening Road emailed a number of parents yesterday to say their child had potentially been in contact with the affected pupil and should not return to school until Tuesday, September 22.

It's understood the affected pupil is in Year 10 but and the Year 10 pod are now self-isolating, but the exact number of pupils has not been confirmed.

Ann Davey, chief executive officer of Pathfinder Schools which runs the academy, said: "We can confirm that we have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19 within Montsaye Academy, part of Pathfinder Schools.

"Further to the advice of Public Health England, the parents of pupils who may have been in contact with the positive case have been advised that their child should self-isolate for fourteen days.

"The academy and its staff will support pupils to continue their learning remotely.

"We have worked closely with the local protection team and have taken the appropriate steps to prevent the spread of the virus to protect our pupils, staff and local community."

A letter to parents of the affected pupils, seen by the Northants Telegraph, said: "We are asking you to do this to reduce the further spread of Covid-19 to others in the community.

"If your child is well at the end of the 14 days period of self-isolation, then they can return to usual activities."

More than 60 schools nationwide have now been affected by positive Covid-19 tests since they returned after the summer holiday.

Yesterday (Monday) Tresham College confirmed a member of staff at their campus in Windmill Avenue had also tested positive, but that the case was not linked to their activities at work.

Kettering and Corby were added to the Government's 'areas of concern' watchlist on Friday because of a rise in the number of cases, which the county's director of public health put down to young people socialising.

More than 700 residents in the borough of Kettering have tested positive for the virus and its case rate is well above the England average. More than 200 Kettering General Hospital patients have died after testing positive for Covid-19.

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