Covid-19 latest: Student tests positive at Harborough secondary school

In line with strict guidance from Public Health England, Department for Education and the local authority the school has been closed to the Year 9 group or ‘bubble’ of students for 14 days
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A student has tested positive for Covid-19 at a Market Harborough secondary school.

The Year 9 pupil, thought to be aged 13 or 14, attends Welland Park Academy on Welland Park Road, Market Harborough.

They are now self-isolating at home.

A student has tested positive for Covid-19 at Welland Park Academy,A student has tested positive for Covid-19 at Welland Park Academy,
A student has tested positive for Covid-19 at Welland Park Academy,

The school, which has about 960 students and 105 staff, received confirmation of the positive case this morning (Thursday).

In line with strict guidance from Public Health England, Department for Education and the local authority the school has been closed to the Year 9 group or ‘bubble’ of students for 14 days.

“This is to ensure that we do not compromise the safety of any of our students or staff,” said Welland Park Academy principal Julie McBrearty.

“These students are taught as a year group for several subjects and operate within a discrete zone at social time to minimise contact between cohorts of students. “The school is cleaned regularly throughout the day and staff exercise social distancing with students.”

She said youngsters affected will begin online learning through Microsoft Teams or another online platform from today “to ensure that we do not compromise the learning for these students”.

“We look forward to welcoming them back to school after 14 days.

“We would like to pay tribute to the excellent conduct of our students and ongoing support from our parents,” stressed Julie.

“We have been able to execute a prompt switch to online learning and help to ensure the safety of our community.”

The student has been hit by the virus days after a teacher at the school tested positive for Covid-19.

The member of staff is now also isolating at home after they got the results of their test on Friday September 25.

But they are still managing to teach their students remotely from home.

Julie told the Harborough Mail earlier this week: “We do have a teacher who has unfortunately tested positive for Covid-19.

“But we have made meticulous preparations for this sort of eventuality happening and we are carrying on at school as seamlessly as possible.

“The teacher affected was already self-isolating at home because a member of their household had tested positive for the virus.

“So their last day actually teaching here in school was on Monday September 21,” said Julie.

“All of our teachers teach our children in a taped-off area at the front of the classroom.

“They have no direct contact with students.

“We have carried out a thorough risk assessment into this situation and done everything we can.”

The school head said the teacher is showing only “mild symptoms” of the coronavirus and is continuing to work from home.

“We obviously feel for them and hope that they make a full and speedy recovery.

“They are doing ever so well because they are still teaching their students by Microsoft Teams from home,” said Julie.

“The pupils are supervised in class as they are taught.

“But we are not being complacent about this.

“The safety of our students and our staff always come first.”