Primary school is forced to close after year one pupil tests positive for Covid-19 and teacher is suspected of having the virus
- Paganel Primary School in Selly Oak, Birmingham, temporarily closed yesterday
- Email sent to staff make clear a pupil tested positive and teacher awaits results
- It is not believed parents have been told of the positive result or suspected case
- School likely to be shut until end of week with ‘year one bubble’ closed to July 9
A primary school has been forced to close after a year one pupil tested positive for Covid-19 and a teacher is suspected of having the virus.
Paganel Primary School in Selly Oak, Birmingham, temporarily closed yesterday after an email was circulated internally to staff.
The messages make clear a year one pupil tested positive for the virus last Thursday, while a staff member was awaiting test results amid suspicions they too were infected.
Paganel Primary School (above) in Selly Oak, Birmingham, temporarily closed yesterday after a year one pupil tested positive for Covid-19 and a teacher is suspected of having the virus
It was said to be likely the school would be shut until the end of the week, with the ‘year one bubble’ closed until Thursday, July 9, allowing fellow pupils the two week isolation period.
It is understood letters issued by the school explained to parents of children within the bubble to self-isolate, before a subsequent letter said there was a suspected case and the school made the decision to close.
In an email sent to staff only and seen by BirminghamLive, head teacher Bethan Gingell wrote: ‘By now you will have all received the group call that the school will be closed until further notice.
‘This decision has been made following information that a year one child has tested positively for Covid-19 and a staff member has a suspected case of Covid-19.
In an email, above, sent to staff only, head teacher Bethan Gingell wrote: ‘A year one child has tested positively for Covid-19 and a staff member has a suspected case of Covid-19’
It was said to be likely the school, pictured, would be shut until the end of the week, with the ‘year one bubble’ closed until Thursday, July 9
‘The Chair of Governors and myself have made the decision to close the school to everyone until we have the test result from the staff member.
‘This as the letter states is a precaution to protect us all.
‘As soon as we have the test result I will be in touch. it is highly likely that school will remain closed this week.
‘The year 1 bubble will remain closed until the 9th July.’
In a subsequent email, from the deputy head Vicki Shuter, the school said it was working alongside Public Health England to manage the situation.
A spokesperson for Public Health England told MailOnline: ‘Following the confirmation on Monday of a single case of COVID-19 in a bubble at Paganel Primary School in Birmingham and a suspected case in a staff member, the Headteacher and Board of Governors have taken the difficult decision to close the school on a temporary basis as a precautionary measure.
‘PHE was contacted by the school leadership yesterday morning and will be working with Birmingham City Council in providing advice and support to the school on the management of the incident.’
MailOnline has contacted the school for comment.