Pendle primary school closes for number of weeks due to multiple coronavirus outbreak

Leaders at Pendle Primary Academy in Brierfield said today had taken the very difficult decision to close the school until October 5th due to a number of positive coronavirus cases across multiple year groups.

The school closed to Year 4 pupils last week following two positive cases but today announced cases had been confirmed in year groups across the school.

Principal Simon Thompson said: "We are taking the strongest possible action available to us, and temporarily closing the school to all children until Monday 5th October. During this time, children will be provided with home learning.

“This has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make, having only been re-opened for such a short period of time. However, we must act now in order to prevent further transmission of the virus.

"It is my hope that a short closure of the school will allow us to break any existing chains of transmission. However, we can only do this with everyone’s help – there is evidence that the virus is spreading between households in the local community, and we would ask all parents to follow local guidance to ensure that this transmission is drastically reduced, so that we can re-open safely in a fortnight.”

Parents of children in year groups where positive cases have been confirmed have been issued guidance on how long their children must self-isolate for before returning to school on October 5th. They have also been asked to contact the school if anyone in their household returns a positive coronavirus test during the period the school is closed.

Pendle Primary Academy is part of the Pendle Education Trust family of schools.

The Trust’s chief executive Anita Ghidotti added: “We deeply regret that this is the course of action we have had to take, however it is clear to us that it is the right thing to do – we act, as always, in the best interests of the children and staff in our family.

"We urge all families in our local communities to follow guidance and help to reduce the transmission of the virus locally – we have to work together to do this.”