Covid-19 cases continue to rise at Littlehampton school: principal addresses concerns

Coronavirus cases continue to rise at a school in Littlehampton.
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Three pupils have now tested positive for Covid-19 in Year 10 of The Littlehampton Academy and a student in Year 12 also recently caught the virus, according to letters sent to parents.

Morgan Thomas, principal of The Littlehampton Academy, said contact tracing had identified 19 close contacts of the Year 12 student in lesson or social time and they had been told to self-isolate.

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Year 10 is already in self-isolation until October 27 due to the first case in its ‘bubble’, but 30 close contacts of the second student must now self-isolate until October 31.

The Littlehampton AcademyThe Littlehampton Academy
The Littlehampton Academy

All Year 11 students had to self-isolate until today (October 23) due to a Covid-19 case. Twenty Year 8 students had to stay home for two weeks after coming in contact with a pupil who tested positive recently.

In his letters, Mr Thomas said a Public Health England official could not conclude if transmission was occurring in the school or not, but that they were ‘not being complacent’.

He added that he had received ‘a number of emails and comments expressing concern about the number of cases at TLA, some with questions about the processes and procedures that we have in place’.

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He went on to say: “Whilst I can understand that concern, I think it would be helpful to provide some wider context: Pupils are now in self-isolation in 46% of England’s secondary schools. That amounts to around 400,000 pupils across England.”

He added that the following strict measures continued to be adhered to:

- Additional cleaning takes place during the day.

- An enhanced clean takes place at the end of every day.

- Students are expected to wash their hands regularly and sanitise their hands before each lesson at one of the many stations we have put in place.

- Pupils’ desks and workspaces are wiped down at the beginning of each lesson.

- Face coverings are worn in communal spaces.

- Visitors to site are restricted.