Coronavirus Kent: Medway schools close as Boris Johnson expected to announce national closure
15:21, 18 March 2020
updated: 17:30, 18 March 2020
Schools across the Towns have been forced to shut as teachers and staff are forced into self-isolation from coronavirus.
Pressure has been mounting on the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to close schools nationally which has been confirmed by education secretary Gavin Williamson this afternoon.
It has been down to individual schools and head teachers whether to remain open until now.
The governments in Scotland and Wales announced at lunchtime all schools will be closing by Friday.
The UK Government has said keeping children in schools for as long as possible would help working parents make arrangements to look after them.
The other idea is that it will help protect grandparents – over 70s being one of the most at risk groups from Covid-19 – who might have been called on to look after their grandchildren.
At least six schools – and unconfirmed reports of a seventh – have closed in Medway as a result of fears of coronavirus cases.
The latest closure is Rainham School for Girls which enforced a partial closure for two weeks from today.
Years 8 and 9 are being told to stay at home due to the number of staff self-isolating and rising numbers expected in the coming weeks.
St John Fisher Catholic School in Chatham fully reopened this week after a deep clean last Monday and Tuesday shutting the entire site.
A pupil in Year 8 was diagnosed with the disease prompting the shut down.
The Ordnance Road site reopened for Years 9 to 13 last Wednesday with the rest of school returning on Monday when the Maidstone Road site also reopened.
But Holcombe Grammar School in Chatham was shut for two days this week due to staff shortages forced by self-isolating.
Years 10 and 12 were told to stay at home on Tuesday and Wednesday and school leaders were due to meet today to discuss whether to reopen.
In a letter to parents, principal Lee Preston said: "We are continuing to be wholly responsible in fulfilling the duty of care we have to our students, staff and our wider school community, including you all, by following the advice and guidance from the government and Public Health England."
Brompton Academy in Gillingham was also forced to close to all non-exam sitting year groups today due to "extreme staffing difficulties".
The school said it will reopen tomorrow and Friday for Years 11 and 13 but other year groups will remain at home until further notice.
Judy Rider, chief executive of the University of Kent Academy Trust, which runs the school, said: "We are experiencing extreme staffing difficulties due to the number of staff who are absent due to self or family isolating because they or their family members are displaying symptoms as determined by Public Health England."
Pupils due to sit GCSE and A-Level exams were in school as normal but Years 7-9 and Years 10 and 12 were told to remain at home.
The Victory Academy, in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, told the majority of its pupils not to come in for lessons yesterday due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The school will remain closed tomorrow as leadership decide whether to reopen tomorrow.
"We are experiencing extreme staffing difficulties due to the number of staff who are absent due to self or family isolating"
Parents were told in a letter yesterday the closure was being forced because of staff shortages.
The first primary school to close in Medway was Hoo St Werburgh Primary as pupils and teachers were sent home on Tuesday due to a suspected case.
Head teacher Emma Poad said a deep clean is being planned and the actions are being taken as "a precautionary measure" after consultation with Public Health England.
In a letter, she said: "This is a case which has been reported today and as a result we are acting as swiftly and promptly to provide you with this information.
"Whilst I fully understand this may cause anxiety within the school community, I can re-assure you that all necessary steps are being taken to minimise risks to others.
"The school are making arrangements for a deep clean with advice from PHE and we need to close the school to carry this out."
The Marlborough Centre is also closed.
