Holbeach and Long Sutton secondary schools send students home early due to COVID-19 cases

Two South Holland secondary schools had to send some of their students home early today (Thursday, December 17) after reports of positive COVID-19 tests.

Both Year 7 and 11 groups at University Academy Holbeach (UAH), along with Year 11 students at University Academy Long Sutton (UALS), were sent home before the scheduled leaving time after school leaders took advice from public health officials.

Leaders at both schools, Sheila Paige (UAH) and Liam Davè, notified parents by letter of their decision to send their children home as the autumn term came to an end today.

Executive principal Steve Baragwanath said: "Unfortunately, there has been a reported case of COVID-19 with one of our youngsters in Year 7.

"We were told mid-morning and called the parents immediately to have the Year 7 pupils collected by them during the course of the day.

"Then a 3.15pm, we had notification from a family that a Year 11 pupil had tested positive but, fortunately, that child hasn't been in school for a number of days and so their period of isolation is reduced.

"We couldn't discharge the Year 11s straight away as there were only five to ten minutes left until the end of school, so we communicated with their families and let them know the situation.

"We're very grateful for the way in which they came and helped us with collecting their children in an orderly fashion.

"There was also a Year 11 pupil who tested positive at UALS and the parents were asked to collect their children during the course of the afternoon.

"The children have gone home with a letter for their parents, advising them to take precautions, and we just hope that they have a fabulous Christmas."