Student tests positive for Covid-19 at Chichester school

A small number of students at Bishop Luffa were told to stay at home for a fortnight aftter the sixth former contracted the virus.

In a letter to parents, head teacher Austen Hindman said: "Sadly, this is the email that we have all hoped I wouldn’t be writing. We have had one student test positive for Covid-19. The student is in the 6th Form and over the weekend we have been working to identify others who have had close contact with that student.

"If you have not been contacted directly by me, then your child has not been in close proximity and so doesn’t have to self-isolate.

"The small number of children who have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive have received a letter informing them that their child must stay at home for 14 days and giving them further guidance.

"As there is only one confirmed case, and because there is a clear connection to a confirmed case outside of school, we do not need to close the whole school at this time or send home a whole year group. We will watch the situation closely and will take further action if it is necessary.

"This case shows how important the safety measures in school are. If we do manage to reduce the spread of infection then this will be largely because of the excellent way that students and staff have responded to the new rules.

"Please can you let the school know if your child has taken a test and please isolate until the results are known."