Secondary school forced to shut after pupil tests positive for coronavirus

A secondary school has been forced to close its doors after a pupil reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.

Rawlins Academy in Quorn, Leicestershire, emailed parents on Wednesday evening to inform them that the school is shut for the rest of the week as a precautionary measure, according to Leicestershire Live.

The closure comes as the government admitted defeat over its desire for all primary pupils in England to attend classes before the summer break, in the face of widespread opposition from teachers, doctors and scientists.

An email from the school read: "We have received information late this evening of a suspected Covid case.

"In light of this information and in order to seek further clarification from the relevant agencies, the school site will be closed as a precautionary measure tomorrow Thursday and Friday June 11.

"We apologise for the inconvenience and will send further updates as soon as we can."

No further information on the situation has been released.

It follows the closure of the Humberstone Academy in Leicester, which will remain shut for the “foreseeable future” after two members of staff tested positive for the virus.

Boris Johnson had wanted all primary schools in England to reopen for four weeks before the summer break as part of his plan to ease the coronavirus lockdown.

But education secretary Gavin Williamson was forced to admit defeat over the plans – set out in the government’s coronavirus recovery plan – for primary schools to fully reopen.

Children in England began returning in a phased process last week, with reception, year 1 and year 6 pupils heading back first – although two in five primary schools did not reopen.

Some schools said they did not have enough space on site to admit all pupils in the eligible year groups, while adhering to government guidance to limit class sizes to 15 and encourage fewer interactions.

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