Yavneh College students self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19

Yavneh College has written to parents and students after a number of Year 13 pupils tested positive for Covid-19, just days before the new term was due to begin.

In an email seen by Jewish News, headteacher Spencer Lewis said “most are with very mild symptoms” and are now self isolating.

He said: “These students and their contacts will be isolating and not returning to school until after the appropriate period of isolation.”

Lewis added that the school had consulted with Public Health England, outlining that “anyone who has tested positive must isolate for 10 days from the date symptoms began” and that “after 10 days, students can return to school providing they do not have a temperature.”

The letter added: “If a student has had contact with someone who has tested positive, they must isolate for 14 days from the point of contact.”

The headteacher also told parents and students: “I understand that there have been some recent year group gatherings/parties; if a student was at that party the advice from PHE is that they are deemed a contact and they are now required to isolate.”

Lewis told Jewish News: “There are some Yavneh College pupils who currently need to isolate and who will not be able to start school on time next week. Most of these pupils were in direct contact with the few who have tested positive and all I am pleased to say, have only mild symptoms.

“We will soon be contacting those pupils who are isolating with details as to how they can access and complete their school work while they are away from school.”

News of an outbreak among Yavneh College students comes just days before students are due to return.

Year 7 pupils are scheduled to return tomorrow (Thursday), with Year 12 on Friday and the rest of the school back from next Monday.

Yavneh College has been approached for comment.

Earlier this week, Jewish schools including Yavneh, JFS, JCoSS and Hasmonean announced that all staff and students would be required to wear masks in corridors, but not in classrooms.

This comes after the Government issued guidance for students returning to classrooms outlining that masks are not compulsory, but rather at each school’s discretion.