Long Sutton school confirms two students tested positive for COVID-19

Students from two year groups at a Long Sutton secondary school have been told to self-isolate after a pair of positive COVID-19 cases this week.

Year 8 and 10 students from University Academy Long Sutton (UALS) are currently having "remote learning" sessions at home after senior staff learned yesterday (Monday) that one youngster from each year group had tested positive for the virus.

UALS executive principal Steve Baragwanath also confirmed that students from other year groups who used the same school transport as the two students who tested positive have also been advised to self-isolate.

Mr Baragwanath went on to confirm that all students affected are due to return to classroom lessons at UALS on Thursday, November 26.

He said: "On Monday morning, the academy was informed that one of our Year 8 pupils and one of our Year 10 pupils had tested positive for COVID-19.

"Working together with the local health protection team and following government guidance, the decision was taken to send Year 8 and Year 10 pupils home for a period of isolation.

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"Pupils in these groups are now 'remote learning' and have been able to participate in the live, streamed lessons delivered by their teachers that began today Tuesday, November 17).

"They have also been completing work set by their teachers on the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).

"Unfortunately, both of the pupils affected use the same home-to-school transport bus and, as a result, we have been advised that pupils from various year groups sharing this transport will need to isolate as well.

"All of the pupils involved in this period of isolation will return on Thursday 26th November."

. Spalding High School says four more students test positive for COVID-19

Mr Baragwanath added that lessons at UALS are continuing as normal for all other students "in unaffected year groups" who are still attending the school where site staff have carried out an extensive cleaning programme throughout the school.

"The Principal of UALS, Liam Davé, has asked me to thank all of the families of students collected yesterday for their patience and understanding," Mr Baragwanath said.

"This enabled him and his team to organise and complete a safe, orderly dismissal of the pupils from the academy by lunchtime on Monday.

"As a precaution, the site was thoroughly cleaned by our site team – as it is during each day and evening - and 'fogged' with a sterilising mist overnight to reduce the chances of any transmission of the illness.

"I would like to thank the site team and teaching staff for their excellent work in preparing the school site and in setting up and delivering 'remote learning' and 'live' online lessons so quickly.

"I have observed some of these lessons today, alongside Mr Davé, as they were being streamed to pupils in their homes this morning.

"We were both very impressed with the lessons and the attitudes of the pupils towards their learning.

"Let us all hope that these disruptions come to an end sooner rather than later."