Upset as school waited days to inform parents of Covid-19 case

According to the teachers’ union, the senior leadership team at Cavendish School was aware on Monday May 11 that a member of staff had tested positive for Covid-19 but parents were not made aware until Friday May 15.

In that time, the Cavendish Hub, as it is known, opened its doors to children of keyworkers from Cavendish, Stafford and Roselands schools as well as to students from other Eastbourne schools.

Cavendish headteacher Peter Marchant said he followed the correct procedures in line with advice and guidance set out by Public Health England. And Public Health England said it offered specialist advice in line with national guidance and ultimately it is a decision for the school when they decide to tell parents.

But it still remains unclear as to what that guidance is and why there was such a delay in informing parents and carers about the positive test by a staff member.

Phil Clarke, the branch secretary of the National Education Union in East Sussex, said, “The NEU, alongside our sister union GMB, was extremely concerned to discover there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19 at the Cavendish Hub, where a staff member tested positive last weekend.”

Mr Clarke said the unions believed that up to 100 pupils and staff attended the school each day last week.

He said, “Thankfully, we understand the member of staff is not seriously ill, but the potential infection that may have taken place given the size of the hub represents a serious and imminent threat to health.

“We are particularly concerned that despite some of the senior leadership team knowing of the case on Monday May 11, staff and parents were not made aware until late Friday May 15.

“This disclosure was only made at all after unions, who were informed of the case earlier on Friday May 15, contacted management to say that we would tell staff and parents if they did not do so.

“It is wholly unacceptable to allow staff and children to attend the hub for a whole week, without informing them and closing the hub, allowing urgent testing and a full school deep clean to take place.

“There has clearly been a series of failures here and, as advice was sought by leadership from East Sussex County Council and Public Health England, it raises serious questions about the quality of that advice.

“We had always maintained the hub was too large and will be expecting swift action on closure, testing and a re-think of the school provision in Eastbourne during the crisis.

“ How can there be faith from school staff and parents that any East Sussex schools can open more widely from June 1 when, even with limited opening, a confirmed case in a school has been handled so badly?”

It was through a letter from Kyra Siddall-Ward, the interim headteacher of Roselands Infant School in Woodgate Road, that parents were informed of the news.

She said a member of staff – who she could not name due to it being a confidential matter – was ‘recovering well at home’.

She wrote, “When notified, I contacted the Government Health Protection Team who provided clear advice on the steps that I should take. I contacted the team who work with the member of staff and implemented the recommendations in full.

“While the Government Health Protection Team indicated no further communication or action was required, I feel I should inform all staff and parents of pupils who have accessed the provision.

“We have followed all the other recommendations advised by the Health Protection Team including deep cleaning the work base.

“We are closing the school on Monday (May 18) for a deep clean as a further precaution. We aim to open again as soon as we are confident we can do so safely and I will write to confirm the arrangements for next week.”

In a statement issued alongside East Sussex County Council at the weekend Peter Marchant at Cavendish said, “We are aware of the concerns raised about a member of staff who contracted Covid-19. I can confirm that we have followed the correct procedures in line with the advice and guidance set out by Public Health England.”

Trish Mannes at Public Health England said, “PHE South East was approached by the school once they had a confirmed case and we were able to offer specialist advice in line with national guidance.

“Everyone should be following social distancing advice to prevent the spread of the virus. Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you, your family and colleagues by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and if you cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.”