Camborne Academy responds to parents' concerns after pupil tests positive for Covid-19

Parents wanted to know why only one year group has been told to isolate at home

Stock image of an empty classroom (Image: Pixabay)

Parents have hit out and demanded answers after an entire year group was sent home to self-isolate when a pupil tested positive for Covid-19.

Yesterday (Monday, September 21) Camborne Science and International Academy (CSIA) announced that a Year 8 pupil tested positive for Covid-19 and the entire year group was told to isolate at home until next Tuesday (September 29).

However, some parents criticised the academy and its measures to prevent the spread of infection.

Meanwhile others questioned why students have been told to self isolate for seven days when the government guidelines say 14.

In a response to one parent, a spokesman for Camborne Science and International Academy (CSIA) explained: “The student who has tested positive was already not attending school as they were unwell. When they developed Covid-19 symptoms, they took a test and the positive results were shared with CSIA today. By the return date of Tuesday, September 29, their full two weeks isolation date will have passed (from the day that they stopped attending school). Therefore, Public Health England have advised that the year group follow the same time period of self-isolation as the student who tested positive.”

Yesterday the school announced that a Year 8 pupil tested positive for Covid-19. Read more here.

Another parent asked why only Year 8 was told to isolate at home, to which the academy responded: "After discussing our school circumstances and our Covid-19 measures, Public Health England have advised that only students who are in Year 8 need to self-isolate. Each of the teachers who have been in contact with the student have been spoken to in order to make an informed decision of the need to self-isolate. Decisions have been confirmed with Public Health England. The guidance for all other students and teachers remains the same. Students should return to school as normal unless they experience symptoms."

The academy said staff have maintained their distance during contact with the infected student and are at very low risk, so have been advised that they’re fine to be in school.

The academy says on entrance and exit of all classrooms, students sanitise their hands, and are taught in rows, so staff can keep a two metre distance between themselves and the students.

Meanwhile, it isn’t mandatory for staff and students to wear face masks in the corridors, however, the academy said there are "a number of students" who do so.

Year groups also have their own allocated toilets, so students shouldn’t be using a different toilet allocated to a different year group.

Concerns were raised about different year groups attending detention together.

The academy responded: “In both IE and detention, students are required to wear a mask. To reduce the risk further, in detentions, the students are spread throughout the room and do not sit face to face. In the majority of cases, students have their backs to other students helping to reduce the risk.”

In a statement today to Cornwall Live, CSIA said: “We can confirm that one of our Year 8 students has tested positive for Covid-19, and all students in the Year 8 bubble are now isolating at home until Tuesday, September 29.

"At Camborne Science and International Academy, we acted immediately upon receiving the news and have followed all guidance from the Department for Education and Public Health England about what action to take.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation carefully and are working closely with the Department for Education, Public Health England, parents and the school community to ensure our follow-up measures are robust.

"We have extensive risk assessments in place, covering all necessary health and hygiene measures in line with or exceeding government guidelines to keep students and staff safe.

"We are working with the families of the students who have been asked to self-isolate to ensure our Year 8 students have access to our comprehensive remote learning programme until their return on Wednesday 30th September.

"Our students’ wellbeing and education will always be our number one priority. We will continue to monitor the situation and communicate clearly with our school community.

"At this time, there are many other schools in the country having to address similar challenges."