A Brighton primary has sent home three of its four year groups following a clutch of confirmed covid cases.
Stanford Junior School decided to allow the three classes within each year group to mix when schools fully reopened on Monday, March 8, to make the return to school “as normal as possible” for children.
But the policy appears to have backfired after cases in years four, five and six have seen about 270 children told to self isolate for 10 days.
There have also been concerns that children meant to be self-isolating have still been going to the park or organising sleepovers, prompting head Paul Davis to send a warning letter to parents and carers.
One parent said: “The reason we’re in this situation and other schools possibly aren’t is because ours has a year bubble strategy, where kids across all three forms within one year can mix at playtime and in the canteen.
“They did this to make kids feel as normal as possible. But it’s backfired massively as now kids with Covid in one class means all classes in that year has to go home.
“It’s rubbish. I feel so sorry for the school trying to decide what the right thing to do is.”
A council spokesperson said: “Some pupils and staff from Stanford Junior School have been told to self-isolate due to a number of positive cases.
“We are continuing to monitor the situation and supporting the school in managing cases.
“Stanford Junior School conducted a thorough risk assessment before re-opening more widely in line with guidance from the council and put in place rigorous controls to stop the potential transmission of Covid-19.
“The school dealt rapidly with the cases, identifying contacts and telling cases and contacts to self-isolate immediately, to reduce transmission and keep people safe.
“The school have also sought advice and support from the council, the Department for Education and the regional PHE specialist Health Protection Team in line with Covid-19 protocols.”
Perhaps the school needs a bit more focus on their maths department?! The more people there are in a bubble the more chance that someone will be infected and that whole bubble have to self-isolate. A hard lesson in practical maths and odds….
This is untrue the school have explained the year bubbles is due to lack of space (staggering play times and lunches between 12 classes would not be possible amongst other reasons). There needs to be support for schools and teachers who are doing an amazing job with no vaccine priority. I’ve heard children going home with other children etc. this is not helpful and neither are negative comments and articles about this school or others. Give them some support and be factually correct.