Three Wolverhampton primary schools send pupils home after positive cases of coronavirus
Three Wolverhampton primary schools have sent pupils home after positive cases of coronavirus.
A Year 3 pupil at Whitgreave Primary School, a Year 6 pupil at Springdale Primary School and a Year 6 pupil at Woden Primary School have all today been confirmed as having tested positive for Covid-19.
It comes after six other schools in Wolverhampton have had to send pupils home due to confirmed cases of coronavirus, including Highfields School, East Park Academy and Royal Primary School.
Numerous schools across the Black Country and beyond have had to send students home to self-isolate for two weeks after reopening for the first time since March last week.
However most schools have stayed open, with only affected students in the same class or year "bubble" having to go home.
A spokesman for Wolverhampton Council said: “We can confirm that three primary schools have each reported a single case of Covid-19, with pupils asked to self-isolate accordingly.
“A Year 3 pupil at Whitgreave Primary School has tested positive for Covid-19 and as a result Year 3 have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
“A Year 6 pupil at Springdale Primary School has tested positive for Covid-19 and all members of the Year 6 bubble have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution.
“A Year 6 pupil at Woden Primary School has tested positive for Covid-19 and their class bubble of 30 is self-isolating.
“Public Health England is supporting schools locally and across the country with the response to single confirmed cases of coronavirus in school attendees.
“Where cases are identified, Public Health England, the City of Wolverhampton Council and the school in question will work closely with staff and pupils to implement the appropriate steps to manage any potential exposure.
“We are aware of cases among the school population and are reassured that appropriate steps are being taken to allow schools to manage these situations safely.”
Woden Primary, in Springfield Road, was alerted to the positive case on Tuesday.
As a result, 30 children in Year 6 were sent home to self-isolate following guidance from Public Health England
The school's headteacher, Helen Vernon, denied social media reports that two other students were sent home with Covid-19 on Wednesday.
Mrs Vernon said: "We were made aware that a Year 6 pupil tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday and made the decision to quarantine all the children in that group for 14 days following advice from PHE.
"Obviously this is very sad as children and staff were only to happy to come back to school last week but their safety must be our first priority.
"Please be assured the welfare and safety of our children remains our priority and we will continue to keep parents and carers updated."
