Hastings secondary school sends year groups home after students test positive for Covid-19

Ark Alexandra Academy closed the whole year 8 bubble on Friday (November 20) before closing the year 7 bubble on Monday (November 23) after more Covid-19 cases, meaning the lower block of the school at the Helenswood campus has been closed.

On Friday, the school said a student in year 8 had tested positive for Covid-19.

The school told parents the decision to close the whole year bubble was made by Public Health England.

Similarly, on Monday, parents said Public Health England made the decision to close the whole year 7 bubble after a student in that year group had tested positive for the virus. That student was last seen in school last Tuesday (November 17), parents were told.

Students in year 10 and year 11 have also tested positive for Covid-19, parents were told, but only close contacts of those individuals have been told to isolate. Both those year group bubbles are continuing to attend school as normal.

Year 7 students will return to school on December 2 once their 14-day isolation period has ended. The school said the Helenswood campus will be deep cleaned before students return.

Year 8 students will return to school next Monday (November 30) – two weeks after they came into contact with the individual who later tested positive for the virus.

Parents of children in each year group were told they could access lessons online.

The school has remained opened for all other year groups.