Sutton school closed for 'circuit breaker' after confirmed Covid cases in pupils and staff
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Quarrydale Academy School, on Stoneyford Road, has had six confirmed cases among the pupils and four in the staff, with three more staff awaiting the outcome of tests.
Head teacher of the 1,220 pupil school Tim Paling said the closure from tomorrow Wednesday, November 18 until next Wednesday, November 25, was designed to “reduce the spread of the infection” within the academy.
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Hide AdYear seven had already closed last Monday for 14 days following cases.
The school has around 88 teaching and support staff and the closure, aimed at keeping people safe, was also prompted amid fears over staffing levels.
Mr Paling said: "We have had to take this very difficult decision to close the whole academy for a seven day period, from tomorrow until next Wednesday. The school will come back next Wednesday, but year seven, where the main cases started, will not be back until a week on Monday.
"We have had to take this swift and decisive action to be safer, and protect everyone from the potential spread of the virus. It is a precautionary measure, a lot of students are already self isolating, as well as staff, and it is a worry with regard to staffing levels, it is a fine balance, trying to keep everyone safe whilst still delivering education.
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Hide Ad"It is possible that more cases could come out and any staff or pupils carrying it now could develop symptoms in the next few days, so we took the decision to close the whole school. We will be arranging online classes, as we would be losing five days of classes.”
He added "Obviously it is a difficult situation, but the priority is to keep everyone safe and we will be having more discussions this week. If there any parents with any worries, they know they are welcome to contact the academy.”
Ashfield MP Lee Anderson said: “I am going to be asking the head teacher what educational provision will be made for Quarrydale Academy pupils when the school closes and I want to find out why the school has not been able to get the virus under control.”