Students self-isolating after Covid case at Higham Ferrers school

More than 30 students at a school in Higham Ferrers are self-isolating after a pupil tested positive for Covid-19.

The Ferrers School in Queensway is the latest to be affected by the virus since schools returned in September, with a pupil in Year 10 receiving a positive test result.

In a statement, principal Angela Smith said: "After assessing the specific circumstances of the case, Public Health England have asked 32 students to self-isolate until October 28.

“The students who have been asked to stay at home will be able to continue their learning with the support of teachers online.

"The school remains fully open to all students and children should continue to attend if they are feeling well.

“We understand that as cases rise across the country, any positive result will be worrying.

"However, we are confident that all essential Covid-19 guidance has been implemented in line with the latest guidance and continue to do everything we can to manage the risk for students, staff and our local community.”

More than 15 schools across the north of Northamptonshire have now reported positive test results since the start of the academic year, including four reported cases at Bishop Stopford School.

Elsewhere in the county yesterday Weston Favell Academy decided to close to all pupils with immediate effect because of staff shortages as a result of self-isolation precautionary measures.

At a media briefing on Friday the county's director of public health Lucy Wightman revealed the county was battling ten outbreaks at schools - defined as two or more cases linked by place and time to one setting.

Eight of the outbreaks were in Northampton, one in East Northamptonshire and one in South Northants.

Ms Wightman said: "We are very pleased that despite challenges and a slight increase in numbers we are managing to keep schools open with a high level of pupils attending.

"Schools are working with us and and with Public Health England to maintain a safe environment and mitigate risks where they appear.

"In fact, a lot of contact tracing information has given insight that quite a lot of the spread is coming from outside schools, where children are socialising."

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