Third of primary and secondary schools in Black Country and Staffordshire record coronavirus cases
A third of primary and secondary schools across the Black Country and Staffordshire have recorded a positive coronavirus case, figures have shown.
A total of 267 sites – out of 800 – have registered a positive case which has led to pupils – and potentially even year groups – being sent home to self-isolate.
It comes as concerns have grown over thousands of children across the country missing out on education in school because of a few Covid-19 cases.
In the Black Country, more than half of schools in the area have recorded a positive virus case – with 173 schools out of 321 registering one.
More than half of primary and secondary schools in Dudley have reported cases, with the figure at three-fifths for Sandwell and at more than a third for Wolverhampton.
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A spokesman for Walsall Council said a number of schools had recorded a positive case but refused to comment on "individual educational settings or cases".
In Staffordshire, a total of 94 schools, out of 479 sites in total including public schools, have had a case – meaning 20 per cent of all schools in the county have been affected.
Cases are believed to be largely single or family-related with total of 3,567 pupils currently self-isolating, a spokesman for Staffordshire County Council said.
County Councillor Jonathon Price, cabinet member for education, said: "We have a team working with schools who have a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19 on the actions they can take to stop the spread.
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"Our schools are doing a fantastic job of ensuring children can continue their education even when isolating at home, as well as ensuring pupils and staff stick to the guidelines when in school.
"With Staffordshire now at the High Covid Alert Level, it is a timely reminder that we must all do everything we can to stick to the rules, and keep ourselves and each other safe.
"We will continue to work with our schools to control any outbreak and minimise any disruption to pupils’ learning."
In Wolverhampton, a total of 22 primary schools and 16 secondary schools recorded cases between September 1 and October 19 out of 110 schools in the city.
It means more than a third – or 34 per cent – of schools have been hit by the virus, with a total of 1,771 pupils at home self-isolating as of October 19.
A total of 58 primary and secondary schools in Dudley recorded positive coronavirus since the start of term out of 106 state schools across the borough.
It means more than half of schools in the area have been hit by the pandemic – with 34 primary schools, 17 secondary schools and seven special schools hit.
A total of five schools closed for one week in October before half term, a spokesman for Dudley Council said. The number of self-isolating pupils is not known.
In Sandwell, a total of 55 primary schools and 24 secondary schools have recorded positive virus cases out of 135 in the borough according to the figures.
It means almost three-fifths have been hit by the pandemic – with a total of 14,534 pupils having had to self-isolate, a spokesman for Sandwell Council confirmed.
In Walsall, chiefs said in the final week of half term – up to October 23 – a total of 5,538 students from reception to Year 11 were absent from school due to the virus.
