Council considers closing two secondary schools in MK due to high numbers of Covid cases

Over the past few weeks, hundreds of pupils and staff have had to be sent home to isolate from Ousedale school - which has campuses in Newport Pagnell and Olney - and Stantonbury International School.

The number of Covid cases in Newport Pagnell, Olney and Stantonbury are the highest in MK, and it is thought the schools and the hub of the problem. In Olney and nearby Lavendon alone, there were 35 new cases in seven days recently.

This week MK Council is considering whether the situation warrants a circuit breaker closure of the two schools and whether such a move would be effective.

A source told the Citizen: "It seems like the main outbreaks way outbreaks of Covid-19 are transmitting in Milton Keynes is somehow linked to secondary schools. But more work is being done on the data to see if it is cause or effect."

He added: "We need to be able to show the schools are the issue. If they are, we need to understand the impact of closing them."

The sourced said one problem could be when schools send pupils home after a confirmed Covid case in their 'bubble', the youngsters refuse to take isolation seriously.

"Sometimes they just hang out together or go up the city,." he said. "In some ways, bubbles and classrooms could be more effective at controlling issues than shutting a school and having no control."

Currently MK Council is giving advice to 32 schools who have cases among their staff or pupils.

Council leader Pete Marland said: "We know that we have had several outbreaks linked to secondary schools. We are working with our public health teams to understand the issues and we will take any action that is required."

He added: "We are confident that head teachers have been putting robust measures in place to limit the spread of the virus, such as staggering start and home times, break times and extra cleaning. They have also been learning and adapting very quickly and we are assisting our schools develop online classrooms and home working plans. Teachers are working extremely hard to put education first in a safe way."

Pete has given the following advice to parents and carers:

* If your child has symptoms of Covid-19, such as a new persistent cough, raised temperature or change to their sense of taste or smell, do not send them to school. Isolate, get a test, inform the school.

* Please follow all the guidelines that a school has asked you to follow. Schools have worked hard on their plans to ensure they are as effective as possible.

* Pick up and drop off times are especially important in regard to maintaining social distancing, not mixing with other households and wearing a mask.