Northampton primary closes after Covid-19 outbreak

A Northampton primary school has closed after a Covid-19 outbreak among staff.

Cedar Primary School, which is part of the David Ross Education Trust, closed its doors on Wednesday after an outbreak in which two support staff tested positive for the deadly virus.

This is the second of the academy chain’s schools in Northampton which has had to close because of Covid following secondary Malcolm Arnold’s partial closure in mid-March. There has also been a case at Briar Hill Primary School.

Unison and GMB unions at the start of this week filed a formal complaint against the trust with the Health and Safety Executive listing concerns over the school’s Covid reporting protocol and its risk assessment process.

This was before the outbreak at Cedar Primary School was known. It is understood all 25 staff at the school have now been tested.

Rachelle Wilkins from the GMB says the chain should seriously consider closing its Northampton schools to pupils beyond key workers.

On Monday the trust, which was founded by carphone warehouse supremo and Conservative donor David Ross, opened to Reception and Year 1 pupils at its primaries and is set to bring in Year 6s next week.

Rachelle Wilkins said: “I have real concerns about schools in Northampton. We have heard of eight cases of Covid-19 in schools. My concern is they are contracting Covid-19 in the schools and then these people are going into the community.

“There have been four cases now at DRET schools across three schools. We have asked DRET ‘ what are you going to do about it’ and they just keep throwing government guidelines at us.”

DRET’s schools across Northamptonshire are Welton Church of England Academy, Newnham Primary School, Falconer’s Hill Academy, Abbey CE Academy, Cedar Road Primary School, Eastfield Academy, Briar Hill Primary School, The Arbours Primary Academy, Kings Heath Primary Academy, Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School, Rockingham Primary School and Greenfields Primary School and Nursery.

The government’s decision to reopen primary schools nationally to more classes from the start of this week has been a controversial one, with some local authorities deciding against the move and many parents deciding to keep their children at home.

A DRET spokesman said this afternoon: “The safety of our children and our staff always has been, and always will be, our top priority. For all of our schools, our risk assessments are rigorous and robust and staff have been fully trained on all protective measures put in place.

“We can confirm that in two separate occurrences, two members of staff at Cedar Road Primary School have confirmed Coronavirus. All staff and parents have been informed.

“With the support of the trust, the academy has followed all national guidance, and has a comprehensive programme of protective measures in place. We have been in close contact with Northamptonshire County Council throughout, and our decision to re-open next week once the deep clean has been completed, is entirely in line with their guidance.

“Following Government guidance, all staff who came into contact with the individuals concerned have now been tested and are self-isolating whilst awaiting results, even though staff have been consistently adopting social distancing measures at the school.”

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