More than a thousand pupils sent home from Greater Manchester schools to self-isolate

A matter of days after schools welcomed back pupils, 15 schools in Greater Manchester have had to tell students to stay home and quarantine for 14 days. 

Students are put into bubbles as part of the new safety measures, which means that any children within the bubbles need to isolate too.

Bubbles in primary schools where classes are around 30 are a lot smaller than those in high schools, where whole years were set up as bubbles, affecting as many as 200 children, the Manchester Evening News reports.

The worst affected school is Co-op Academy in Swinton, with positive cases in both Year 7 and Year 10, meaning both year groups were sent home on Monday.

Initially this meant siblings also had to remain off, but parents have since been told otherwise. But if the child who is isolating gains symptoms, other members of the household should face the same restrictions. 

However, this has worried parents who are dependent on children going back to school so they can return to work. Many are now concerned children will be in and out of school throughout the year.

A parent of a child at the school in Swinton has said her child would be better off at home.

She told the MEN: “What’s the rules if we just want to keep our children off for the foreseeable? This is just going to continue and they’re going to just keep getting sent home.

“Day three and it’s happened. It’s going to be a weekly occurrence. I am not putting my child at risk, she has severe asthma. So I don’t want her going back.”

Newall Green Primary School in Wythenshawe had a confirmed positive case on Monday morning and told year 1 and 2 to stay at home.

They have since reduced this to one class in year 1. 

Executive headteacher Sarah Rudd said: “We were alerted first thing this morning before school started to a confirmed case within the school. We took the decision in the interests of keeping all children and staff safe to err on the side of caution and ask two year groups to remain at home today, pending further advice from health officials. No other year groups were affected.

“Since then we’ve had detailed discussions with health colleagues who have advised that just one class of pupils and teachers will need to isolate and stay away from school for the next 14 days, whilst the rest of the classes in the two year groups and their teachers can return to school tomorrow.

“School already has all the required safety measures in place, however as an extra precaution all the classrooms in the two affected year groups are also in the process of being deep cleaned in preparation for pupils’ return.”

The whole of year seven is remaining off until September 18th at Buile Hill Academy in Salford, due to a positive case.

The MEN has confirmed that more than a dozen schools throughout Greater Manchester are in the same situation. 

They added the below list confirming the schools where pupils are self-isolating:

• Buile Hill Academy, Salford – (Year 7)
• Co-op Academy Swinton – (Year 7 and Year 10)
• Dean Trust Wigan – (Year 8)
• Manchester High School for Girls – (Year 5 Prep)
• Newall Green Primary School, Wythenshawe – (One class in Year 1)
• Yew Tree Community School, Chadderton – (Class 4 Red)
• Middleton Parish Church School
• Bowlee Park Community School, Middleton – (Year 1 Class 3 and Year 1 Class 4)
• St Stephen’s RC Primary School, Droylsden – (Confirmed case in Key Stage 2)
• St Anne’s Primary School, Denton – (One class in Year 5)
• Old Hall Drive Academy, Gorton – (Year 6)
• Old Moat Primary School, Withington – (Year 6)
• Gorse Hill Primary School, Stretford – (Year 1)
• Brooklands Primary School, Sale
• Seymour Park Community Primary, Old Trafford

Schools have confirmed they are following the guidance set out by Public Health England and Department for Education inspite of the frustration felt by parents. 

Greater Manchester’s national executive member for the teachers’ union NASUWT, Jac Casson, explains that the number of pupils in isolation is no surprise. 

She added: “Sadly, as the infection rate appears to be growing in many areas of Greater Manchester, it is likely that this will happen in more than the handful of schools already affected only days into the new school term.

“We know that leadership teams, teachers and other staff are working hard to provide a safe learning environment for pupils and they will, understandably, feel concerned about these confirmed cases of Covid-19 in schools across Greater Manchester and the country as a whole.

“The NASUWT is supportive of, and committed to, the aim of pupils being in school and having the benefit of being taught by their teachers. However, it is essential that everything that needs to be done is done, to ensure the safety of staff and pupils and to protect the health of the local community.”

Wigan Council’s director for public health said: “The return to schools will inevitably see a rise in cases across the country, but it is important to note that all the relevant and necessary safety measures are in place and being followed strictly.

“We are supporting the school with advice and guidance at this time. The school remains open and it is not necessary for any other child to self-isolate, stay away from school or to be tested, unless they develop symptoms of Covid-19.”

A spokesperson for Trafford Council added: “Our Public Health Team is working closely with three Trafford primary schools where a small number of pupils have tested positive for Covid 19. The schools involved are Seymour Park Primary, Brooklands Primary and Gorse Hill Primary.

“The schools have informed all parents and the children and staff in the affected classes have been asked to self-isolate for two weeks in line with government guidance.

“The schools in question will remain open to other pupils during this time and the affected areas will be deep cleaned. The health and safety of pupils and staff at all our schools remains our number one priority and our Public Health Team will continue to work closely with school leaders to provide them with the necessary support.”