A MIDDLESBROUGH secondary school is closing for the rest of the week as a precaution.
Kings Academy in Coulby Newham will provide online learning from Tuesday to Friday following a small number of positive Covid cases.
The decision has been taken in consultation with Middlesbrough Council due to the fact the cases are spread across different year groups.
The Council is working with the Department of Health and Social Care to arrange for a mobile testing unit to be positioned at the school.
All students and staff who have not already tested positive will be encouraged to come forward for a PCR test.
Details of the mobile testing unit will be confirmed by the school and communicated to parents.
Close contacts of the positive cases will be legally required to self-isolate for 10 days. The remainder of students are also advised to stay at home as a precaution until they receive a negative test result.
Principal David Dawes said: "I acknowledge the inconvenience this will cause and I would like to thank parents and carers for their cooperation.
"Throughout the pandemic the safety of students and staff has been our main priority. We've acted quickly in response to a small number of cases. We will always put the safety of the wider community first."
Esther Mireku, Consultant in Public Health, said the school had acted promptly and in line with Department for Education and Public Health England guidelines.
"This is a precautionary measure for a short period of time and the extra testing will help us understand more about the spread of infection in the local community," she said.
"I would continue to urge everyone in the local community to follow the current restrictions and to remember the rules around hands, face, space and fresh air."
Cllr Mieka Smiles, Executive Member for Communities and Education, said: "I'd like to thank the school for acting so quickly. I know a programme of online learning is in place for the remainder of the week and students will return to school after the half-term break."
Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "We're supporting the school as they work hard to keep everyone safe. It's vital that education continues and as a Council we committed £350,000 last year to ensure all students have access to a device."
As of Monday, Middlesbrough's infection rate was 28 per 100,000 of the population.
Kings Academy in Coulby Newham will provide online learning from Tuesday to Friday following a small number of positive Covid cases.
The decision has been taken in consultation with Middlesbrough Council due to the fact the cases are spread across different year groups.
The Council is working with the Department of Health and Social Care to arrange for a mobile testing unit to be positioned at the school.
All students and staff who have not already tested positive will be encouraged to come forward for a PCR test.
Details of the mobile testing unit will be confirmed by the school and communicated to parents.
Close contacts of the positive cases will be legally required to self-isolate for 10 days. The remainder of students are also advised to stay at home as a precaution until they receive a negative test result.
Principal David Dawes said: "I acknowledge the inconvenience this will cause and I would like to thank parents and carers for their cooperation.
"Throughout the pandemic the safety of students and staff has been our main priority. We've acted quickly in response to a small number of cases. We will always put the safety of the wider community first."
Esther Mireku, Consultant in Public Health, said the school had acted promptly and in line with Department for Education and Public Health England guidelines.
"This is a precautionary measure for a short period of time and the extra testing will help us understand more about the spread of infection in the local community," she said.
"I would continue to urge everyone in the local community to follow the current restrictions and to remember the rules around hands, face, space and fresh air."
Cllr Mieka Smiles, Executive Member for Communities and Education, said: "I'd like to thank the school for acting so quickly. I know a programme of online learning is in place for the remainder of the week and students will return to school after the half-term break."
Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "We're supporting the school as they work hard to keep everyone safe. It's vital that education continues and as a Council we committed £350,000 last year to ensure all students have access to a device."
As of Monday, Middlesbrough's infection rate was 28 per 100,000 of the population.
