Kettering school forced to partially close its doors after more weekend Covid cases

The school had already told year eight pupils to self-isolate
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Pupils at a Kettering school have received a further blow as three members of the campus community have tested positive for Covid-19 leaving more than half the school learning from home.

Bishop Stopford School in Headlands, Kettering last week informed parents of other positive cornonavirus tests that resulted in the whole of year eight being told to work from home and pupils told to self-isolate.

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In a letter sent emailed out to parents today (Sunday, November 22), the school's headteacher, Jill Silverthorne, asked them to keep children in certain year groups away due to a staff member in a 'critical team' self-isolating after a positive test.

She wrote: "Over the weekend, we have received three positive notifications of Covid-19 cases at Bishop Stopford School. One of these has resulted in staff in a critical team having to self-isolate. In addition, a number of other staff are having to self -isolate for reasons unconnected with the school.

"We have therefore had to assess the risks today and consider how we can maintain effective learning for all students whilst assuring their wellbeing too.

“In particular, we have had to consider the numbers of students we believe we can safely accommodate on site with a diminished staff team over the next fortnight - the period during which the staff in question will not be able to come to site.

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"We have therefore had to implement our contingency plans, involving some complex timetabling decisions, aiming to strike the right balance in the best interests of all students, recognising factors such as their age and proximity to public exams."

Bishop Stopford School, KetteringBishop Stopford School, Kettering
Bishop Stopford School, Kettering

This week, year groups scheduled to sit exams, year eleven and 13, as well as year seven will remain at school as usual but year eight, nine ten and 12 will all be 'learning from home'.

From Monday, November 30, year seven, nine and 12 will learning from home with a decision to be made whether year ten will be at home or school. Year eight, eleven and 13 will be at school.

Miss Silverthorne, thanking parents for their 'forbearance' added: "I am very sorry that it has not been possible to notify you of these changes until today. The situation has only fully arisen this morning.

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“I hope you will also appreciate that, with the need to redesign timetables so that they can be delivered by the staff who remain available, we will be using tomorrow to ensure the full range of lessons, including those which will be live online, are available from Tuesday.

“Learning, however, will continue for all students from tomorrow.

"I understand that this new situation will bring added pressure, and I want to reassure you that decisions we have taken are in the light of the advice given to us from the Department for Education, Public Health England and the local Health Protection Team, with whom we have been communicating throughout today.

"Overall, the numbers of cases within our school community is broadly mirroring the numbers in the school catchment area. We continue to maintain the critical focus on safety on the school site and the health and wellbeing of all in the Bishop Stopford family."