By Daniel Wood
Three secondary schools and one primary school are the latest schools to confirm Covid-19 cases.
This has caused further disruption to pupils and staff, as more schools have positive coronavirus tests.
King James’s in Almondbury and Shelley College near Skelmanthorpe have both confirmed that staff and children have had to self-isolate due to a positive test amongst them.
All Saints Catholic College in Bradley and Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School at Sheepridge are also both understood to have cases of the virus, but either school has made no official comment.
Principle Ian Rimmer of King James’s told parents that a Year 7 pupil and member of staff had both sadly tested positive for the virus.
He sent a letter to parents which said the cases were not linked, but both were at home self-isolating. Anyone that came in contact with them is required to stay at home for 14 days.
He said: “The school remains open and your child should continue to attend if they remain well.
“I know that this will be a worrying time for members of our school community but please be assured that we are following all the guidance to the letter and will continue to do so.
“Please also be reassured that for most people, coronavirus will be a mild illness.”
Shelley College Principle, David Wadsworth, confirmed that they found a number of positive cases, but stressed that their track and trace system has been working very well.
There have been significant outbreaks in the villages of Skelmanthorpe and Emley, which are close to the school.
Mr Wadsworth said: “Because of the quality of our track and trace system we’ve been able to minimise the number of pupils we’ve sent home as we can clearly and confidently track pupils’ movements and who has been in close contact with them.”
He also said that pupils had been asked to wear face coverings in corridors before it was advised by the government, as the area went back into lockdown.
The school insisted that pupils have been responding well to it and they are now wearing them in social areas too.
The number of schools that have been affected by the virus has continued to rise, and the latest batch comes two weeks after Honley High School confirmed one Year 7 child was infected.
There are fears that the real impact is higher than what is being reported, as not every pupil and member of staff will be getting tested. Also, only a small number of Kirklees schools have so far confirmed positive Covid-19 results on their websites.