Covid cases found at more Herefordshire schools

It comes after parents were warned by public health officials not to send children with Covid symptoms to school.

The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School in Hampton Dene Road has brought in new rules as it tries to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Headteacher Martin Henton said coronavirus cases were rising in the school and the school was working with Herefordshire Council's public health team to "monitor the situation".

Face coverings will now be worn in communal areas of the school, and cleaning is being ramped up.

Assemblies are also being moved online in a bid to halt transmission.

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"The safety of all students, staff and their families in our school community is our priority," Mr Henton said in a letter to parents on Wednesday.

"As an additional precautionary measure, we are requesting that all staff and students wear masks in communal areas such as corridors as they are moving around the school from tomorrow.

"To reassure you of the measures we are implementing at school to minimise the risks of transmission, we are continuing with regular hand sanitising and cleaning of all contact surfaces throughout the school on a daily basis.

"In addition, we are reinstating the cleaning of desks every lesson and assemblies will revert back to being delivered on Microsoft Teams."

Hereford Academy, a secondary school in Marlbrook Road, also has pupils self-isolating with coronavirus.

Hereford Academy said earlier this week that there had not been a coronavirus outbreak at the secondary school

In a letter to parents on Thursday, headteacher Michael Stoppard said the safety of children and their families was a top priority, and it would continue working with public health in Herefordshire.

Three days previous, Mr Stoppard said he wanted to reassure parents there had not been an outbreak at the school.

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The nearby Marlbrook Primary School also has a confirmed case.

Coronavirus has been found at Marlbrook Primary School, Hereford

Tracey Kneale, headteacher, said Public Health England had told the school there had been a confirmed case of Covid-19 within the school, attaching information on self-isolation for children and their families.

A similar letter was sent out to parents of children at St Martin's Primary School in Hereford, which is affiliated with Marlbrook.

Mrs Kneale also confirmed a case at St Martin's in Hollybush Walk.

On September 17, Holmer CE Academy wrote to parents saying precautions were being increased after a "small" number of Covid-19 cases were found.

Headteacher Jayne Maund said year group bubbles would resume, guidance which was ditched by the Department for Education over the summer.

Cleaning is being ramped up at Holmer CE Academy in Hereford due to Covid cases

Cleaning would be increased, and a staggered drop-off and pick-up would be brought in.

Assemblies would be held online, she said, and there would be no after school clubs until further notice.

On Thursday, Herefordshire Council's public health team had to remind parents to not send children to school if they had coronavirus symptoms, such as a dry, persistent cough, a fever, or a change or loss of their sense of smell or taste.

Anyone with symptoms should book a PCR test and not go to school until the result was known.

They and their families must follow self-isolation rules.

Kingstone High School and Almeley Primary School are both currently closed due to Covid.