St Joseph's RC High School has hundreds of children currently self-isolating

St Joseph's RC High School sent out letters yesterday telling young people in Year Eight and Year 11 to stay at home on Monday, while the school initiates its track and trace system after two more pupils contracted the virus.

The school has experienced a large number of coronavirus cases following the half-term holiday

Currently more than 300 pupils at the school are self-isolating.

They are being taught remotely while at home.

READ MORE: Head's plea for young people not to meet up in groups

The whole of Year 10 are at home due to two unconnected positive cases, while 85 students in Year Nine are isolating and 122 students in Year Eight were already in isolation, due to three cases.

All of those pupils are during to be back in to school on November 17 and November 18.

Headteacher Tony McCabe said: "We had a positive start to  this academic year managing all our positive Covid cases with little impact on learning for the majority of students with attendance rates of 95+%. 

"We believe that students are safer in school and that the positive impact the normal school routine has on mental health and progress of young people made opening safely, a high priority.   

"The measures we had been taking to minimise the risk of possible infection spread were keeping the virus at bay.  

"All desks are sanitised before use and each room undergoes a thorough deep clean each evening. 

"A welfare cleaner sanitises door handles/toilets facilities etc. during the school day. 

"Where children had been linked to positive cases, parents and carers were very supportive when we asked them to isolate as a precaution to prevent any community transmission through school and any major disruption for a larger number of students and families.

"The senior team and a small number of select supply teachers covered lessons of isolating staff members to keep learning as normal as possible during these unprecedented times.

"Sadly, following half term we have had a large number of positive cases across four different year groups. 

"Initially, we had to close year 10 due to the number of cases.  We asked a small number of Y9 students to isolate but then had to ask the whole year group to isolate following further cases on Friday evening, with news of more coming in over the weekend. 

"Staff worked hard over the weekend to attempt to trace contacts and as a precaution we then had to ask Y8 and 11 to isolate for one day in the first instance while we traced contacts accurately.  

"Over the past few days we have been live streaming some lessons, teaching those in school in person and providing resources for those to independently work at home."

He added: "After a complicated process of tracking contacts of our positive cases within and out of school, we are now able to bring 42 Year 8 students safely back in school and 20 Year 11 students from tomorrow but safety of students and staff is our prime concern.  

"For those at home our hybrid remote learning offer will see learning continue.  We are listening to students, parents and careers to continually tailor our provision to best meet their needs.  

"School is fully open to Year 7 and small groups of Y8 and 11  with enhanced cleaning schedules in place."

Mr McCabe said: "During this time we are encouraging our young people and the staff who are isolating to live out our mission to continue to strive “to achieve beyond our wildest imaginations” no matter what challenges we face.  The mantra here is that ‘when you can’t do what you want to do…you have to do what you can'. 

"We look forward to seeing what can be achieved by our young people during this time."

One parent, whose children have been told to stay at home, told The Bolton News: "The school is doing an amazing job but in the last few weeks there has been a number of positive tests for coronavirus.

"I know shutting schools is not good for children's education, but sending them home like this is not good for their education either, learning remotely is not the same.

"I have children at primary school too, and they are allowed to go to school because they are not showing symptoms, could they not be spreading it to others.

"Schools should shut for four weeks as part of the national lockdown to contain the virus."

Currently in Bolton just under 15 per cent of education establishments have staff or pupils who are currently isolating ­— but education chiefs say there are 40 per cent more pupils in school compared with the same time two weeks ago.

No schools have had to close fully because of coronavirus.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Anne Galloway, said: “The overall number of pupils self-isolating has come down as we seek to minimise their time away from the classroom while doing all we can to keep pupils and the wider community safe.

“As we begin a new period of lockdown, can I remind everyone that pupils should continue to attend to school as normal unless they have been told to self-isolate.

"Our schools have remained safely open throughout the pandemic, even at the height of national lockdown earlier in the year.

“Bolton schools are COVID secure with thorough and well-tested precautions in place.”