Coronavirus outbreaks announced at five more Leeds schools

The cases are spread across Leeds at schools which are part of The Gorse Academies Trust.

A total of two staff and one student have tested positive for Covid-19 at Farnley Academy.

At The Ruth Gorse Academy, two pupils have tested positive.

Boston Spa Academy has also seen one pupil test positive, with one member of staff also testing positive at Bruntcliffe Academy.

The news comes amid an outbreak of cases in schools across the city.The Yorkshire Evening Post understands that at least 16 schools have now had confirmed cases in the past fortnight.

The Gorse Academies Trust operates 11 academies across Leeds.

Nearly 10,000 pupils attend the schools managed by the trust.

Of the schools, five have seen positive cases - accurate on September 18.

As of 18th September, positive Covid cases across the trust: 9 (5 students and 4 staff) include:

Hillcrest Academy – 1

The Ruth Gorse Academy – 2

Boston Spa Academy – 1

Farnley Academy – 1 student and 2 staff

Bruntcliffe Academy – 1 staff

Sir John Townsley, CEO of The Gorse Academies Trust, said the academy trust has acted 'robustly' and followed a comprehensive risk assessment and guidance from Public Health England.

The CEO said: "The Gorse Academies Trust operates 11 academies across the Leeds region, with nearly 10,000 children and young adults in attendance, along with employing nearly 1500 staff across our sites.

"Having a positive Covid case confirmed was always a possibility once we reopened our doors fully in September. Where one of our students or employees have displayed symptoms, we have robustly followed both our comprehensive risk assessment and guidance from Public Health England following lengthy discussions with them.

"This has included precautionary measures of asking classes to self-isolate for a 14 day period as recommended in Government guidance.

"Where this has been the case, students continue to access their education through high-quality, online learning which is checked on a daily basis by their teachers.

"Each of our academies has had a comprehensive risk assessment, developed by its senior leadership team and our central Health and Safety team, which are updated as new guidance becomes available.

"We wish to reassure our parents and carers, students and staff body that the health and wellbeing of our community remains our top priority."

In North Yorkshire, the county's Resilience Forum put out this advice to help control the spread of infections in Yorkshire: "Prevent, contain and reduce the spread of the virus, wherever and however possible.

"Save lives and prevent long-term illness as a consequence of the virus; Keep businesses and schools open;

"Re-inforce personal responsibility: “hands, face, space”; (wash hands, wear a face mask, keep a social distance of at least one metre and preferably two metres apart)

"Protect the NHS;

"Protect care settings and people who are the most frail members of the community;

"Prevent a further, full lockdown if at all possible;

"Take a localised, targeted approach based on risk levels and prevalence of the virus.

"In addition, in the whole of the Scarborough and Selby districts, people are asked to:

"Exercise extra vigilance in maintaining hand hygiene and social distancing.

"Use face coverings when leaving home while circulating infection levels are increasing.

"Avoid large groupings of over 30 people.

"Events organisers to re-think any indoor or outdoor events that involve more than 30 people;

"Take extra care when leaving home if you have an underlying health condition or have been advised to shield"

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Thank you

Laura Collins