Covid outbreak closes Leyland's Balshaws High School for two weeks

An outbreak of Covid-19 has forced a high school in Leyland to close its doors for two weeks.
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Staff and pupils have tested positive for the virus with school authorities saying "most year groups have been affected".

A decision was made this morning to send children home and close the school for the next two weeks.

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The school had remained open for the children of key workers and those from vulnerable families, with most of their classmates receiving remote learning from home since Boris Johnson announced the third national lockdown on January 5, 2021.

An outbreak of Covid-19 has forced Balshaws High School in Leyland to close its doors until February 22. Pic: GoogleAn outbreak of Covid-19 has forced Balshaws High School in Leyland to close its doors until February 22. Pic: Google
An outbreak of Covid-19 has forced Balshaws High School in Leyland to close its doors until February 22. Pic: Google

Children of keyworkers will return to Balshaws on Monday, February 22, following the Spring half-term.

Steven Haycocks, headteacher at Balshaws C of E High School, said: "Several of our staff and students who still come into school, such as children of key workers and pupils from vulnerable families, have tested positive for Covid-19.

"Most year groups have been affected and in line with our detailed risk assessment and Government guidelines, school lessons will continue to be delivered via video calls and other remote learning technology until keyworker and vulnerable provision reopens on Monday, February 22.

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"People's safety and wellbeing is our priority and we've had to take this action to prevent the spread of coronavirus in our school and the local community."

Boris Johnson has told MPs that the government hopes to start reopening English schools on March 8.