A SCHOOL in the district has been forced to closed early ahead of the summer break due to difficulties wrought by Covid-19.

An alert on Bradford Council's emergency school closures notification page this morning said Oldfield Primary School, Oakworth, would be closed due to Covid-19, with further information to follow once PCR results were received.

Gill Holland, CEO of the Bronte Academy Trust, which Oldfield is a part of, said: "Oldfield is the smallest of our schools within Bronte Academy Trust, with only three classes and limited facilities such as toilets, dining space and outdoor play areas, which all the school, inevitably, has to share.

"We are proud at Oldfield that we have avoided the level of closures we have seen across the district, particularly over the last few weeks. 

"This is down to the fabulous support from our parents and community and from the commitment and dedication of the staff, headed up by Mr Travers, the Headteacher who have taken on more and more responsibility to avoid closure. 

"Unfortunately, after rigorous risk assessments, as advised by the DfE, we have had no alternative but to close the three classes following confirmation of PCR, affecting 70 children in all.

"This is particularly sad as we reach the last week of the school year; a time we would normally be celebrating the success of our children.

"Mr Travers, the staff and myself would like to take this opportunity to wish our fabulous Year 6 children all the best for the next stage in their school lives."

Another school has put a partial closure in place this week due to the number of staff having to self-isolate. 

Cottingley Village Primary School said its nursery is moving to remote learning all week. 

"This is to support the capacity of keeping the school open due to the number of staff who are having to isolate," said the school.