Around ‘20% of pupils’ in top NI grammar school self-isolating after Covid-19 outbreak

Around 20% of pupils in a top NI grammar school are self-isolating after a number of pupils tested positive for Covid-19, a concerned parent has claimed.
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The outbreak has taken place in Coleraine Grammar School in Co Londonderry.

The parent said Covid-19 cases had been ongoing since after the Easter holidays - with another two more pupils testing positive this week.

She said: “As of yesterday 160 pupils were self-isolating and today another 50 have been sent home.”

The claims were put to the school and in a statement Coleraine Grammar School Headmaster Dr Carruthers said: “There have been a number of positive Covid tests this week in Coleraine Grammar School, mostly in the junior school on our Lodge Road campus.

“The school notifies the PHA as soon as we are informed, and we follow the medical professionals’ advice carefully.

“Pupils in the junior school are taught in protective bubbles of about 26 pupils, but unfortunately, each positive test result means that the whole bubble has to self-isolate.

“In the senior school, we are working to ensure that self-isolating pupils will still have opportunities to complete assessments which may be used for their Centre Determined Grades.”

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