THERE are mounting concerns about Covid-19 in schools across Bradford, as one large secondary has been forced to close due to 20 staff members and half of pupils isolating.

"When cases are 550 per 100,000 in Bradford schools, that is very high," said Ian Murch, president of the Bradford district branch of the National Education Union. "That's as high as it's been since January.

"There's also been a surge in cases for school staff. In the previous week, there were 40 staff identified with the virus by NHS England."

One Bradford school is temporarily closing its doors after being hit with an outbreak of Covid-19.

St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College has students and staff self-isolating after it reported "a number of confirmed cases" of coronavirus, said headteacher Lawrence Bentley.

The school has made the decision to close after cases spread "mainly amongst students across Year 7 to Year 10", he added.

Its Year 12 group, however, has been "barely affected" by the outbreak, and will therefore continue to be educated on site.

Mr Bentley said: "In order to safeguard the health of our students and their families by breaking chains of transmission, and to ensure quality lessons can continue, albeit remotely, the decision has been made, in consultation with Bradford Council, to close the Year 8, 9 and 10 bubbles, and to ask all students to stay at home until Monday, July 19, pending a further review of the situation on Friday, July 16.

"It has got to the point now where over 50 per cent of students in those year groups are now at home, and not in school. There are also 20 members of staff who are isolating at home as well, either because they tested positive for the virus themselves, or because they have been a close contact of someone who has.

“This compromises our educational provision somewhat. If you are only teaching half of your class in school you have also got to prepare for the half of the class which is at home, and both sets of students, naturally, do not get the same deal.

“Despite all of these national restrictions seemingly easing, we cannot, in all conscience, allow our youngsters and their families to be exposed to this virus in this way. It would be very imprudent and unethical of me to allow that to happen."

The rise in cases comes at a time when the Telegraph & Argus understands some schools in West Yorkshire are planning to take a more lenient line on parents taking children out of school in the final week.

Although Bradford Council has said it is not aware of any schools in Bradford doing this, Mr Murch said: "I would be surprised if schools do that, but I could see parents risking fines as they would be worried about having to self-isolate."

Although the Government is lifting Covid restrictions on July 19, Bradford schools will keep measures in place until the end of term.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We have advised schools to continue to follow their existing control measures until the end of term. This includes holding any end of term events, such as assemblies, in a Covid secure way.

“We have recommended that secondary-age pupils continue to wear face coverings in communal areas where they are mixing with students outside of their bubbles.

“We have also reminded schools to continue to ensure good hygiene for everyone, maintain appropriate cleaning regimes, keep occupied spaces well ventilated and to follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“We believe this is the safest approach given the rising number of cases in all parts of the district and particularly in young people.”