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Original poster

Public health england close school %

27 replies

2toastornot2toast · 11/12/2021 14:45

Is it 10% or 20% of the school that has covid that Public Health England closes it does anyone know?

Thanks

OP posts:
Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 11/12/2021 14:46

23 staff and 100 children had covid at my school and we stayed open. I still haven't had it

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 11/12/2021 14:47

As a percentage it's 60% staff and 30% of children who had covid.

Russell19 · 11/12/2021 14:53

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

23 staff and 100 children had covid at my school and we stayed open. I still haven't had it
Wow that's bad
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 11/12/2021 14:57

20% of a class at DS's primary had it and the class were still in.

noblegiraffe · 11/12/2021 15:00

There isn't a percentage.

Pinkflipflop85 · 11/12/2021 15:07

There is no percentage. Even with 17 staff and 10 children confirmed with Omicron the school is open- just the 4 year groups affected are at home.

Wowcherarestalkingme · 11/12/2021 15:10

We have been told that if 10% of a class gets it, then that class should be soft ring fenced and kept separate from the rest of the school. There is no advice about closing.

Original poster
2toastornot2toast · 11/12/2021 15:16

Oh maybe it's the council then, 2 deputy heads just told me 2 different numbers and I wondered as we're reaching 10 % of school now positive

OP posts:
kowari · 11/12/2021 15:20

Our school only closed to year 8 to 10 on the last day of term as there weren't enough teachers. 20 teachers and 100 students off out of 750. Now it's been though there's hardly any disruption.

scaevola · 11/12/2021 15:21

Contingency arrangements here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings/contingency-framework-education-and-childcare-settings

There is a set threshold for number of cases within a specific time, at which point PHE (if in England) must be consulted (similar in other home nations)

But nothing specific about case numbers and which of the range of mitigations to activate. That's always an individual matter, tailored for each school's size and circumstances

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 11/12/2021 15:51

Soft ring fenced!. What an absolutely huge load of tosh it all is.

Timeforabiscuit · 11/12/2021 15:55

Nope, no closure percentage, (10% triggers a formal joint risk assessment) DfE are prioritising education - so closures are usually down to staff shortage rather than solely covid - at least in our area.

espresso14 · 11/12/2021 16:01

10% of class positive here is formally declared a class outbreak by LA/public health, and triggers that all pupils in class (and now siblings in other siblings) are requested to get a PCR test and remain off school until a negative result is received. Very fast testing turn around times here so it's not unreasonable.

WandaVision2 · 11/12/2021 16:02

2 thirds of dd’s class had Covid over a 3 week period. And they didn’t close.

espresso14 · 11/12/2021 16:03

No, I'm wrong, it's "over 10%". 10% is soft ringfencing, more than 10% is requested PCR for all in class.

Chosenonetosurvivethenight · 11/12/2021 17:19

At one point we had nearly 15% of the student body off with Covid (October) and we didn't close and apparently Public Health England weren't that clear about what else we could do to mitigate 🤔 cases have been really low since November but we all know how that can change due to Omicron

RhubarbAndMustard · 11/12/2021 17:37

Over 40% of DS's class tested positive and they have shut for a 2 day firebreak (4 days including the weekend)

I heard it's not just numbers but the speed of infections too.

Silverswirl · 11/12/2021 17:41

There isn’t a percentage. Even if everyone was off except a few children, if someone was there to teach those few children they would still come in.

Silverswirl · 11/12/2021 17:42

@espresso14

10% of class positive here is formally declared a class outbreak by LA/public health, and triggers that all pupils in class (and now siblings in other siblings) are requested to get a PCR test and remain off school until a negative result is received. Very fast testing turn around times here so it's not unreasonable.
They can request but they didn’t enforce in our school - 50% off at one time.
Blubells · 11/12/2021 18:03

As long as teachers are available, why close? Why not teach those pupils in school?

kowari · 11/12/2021 18:14

@Blubells

As long as teachers are available, why close? Why not teach those pupils in school?
Yes, that's what ours did. Only closed to year 8 to 10 on the last day because there weren't enough teachers, students had been put in front of videos for a couple of days so they were better off learning at home. Unless this is the case then children should be in school.
DanglingMod · 11/12/2021 18:17

@espresso14

10% of class positive here is formally declared a class outbreak by LA/public health, and triggers that all pupils in class (and now siblings in other siblings) are requested to get a PCR test and remain off school until a negative result is received. Very fast testing turn around times here so it's not unreasonable.
60% of several of our classes are positive.

40% of the teaching staff.

PHE were not interested in the slightest.

RedToothBrush · 11/12/2021 18:27

My son's class is up to nearly 30% atm.

Still open.

In special restrictions but still open.

Shieldingending · 11/12/2021 18:32

As others have said they don’t! School just gets a daily phone call from health security agency who ask what measures we have taken. As long as schools have staff the direction is for them to remain open

Abraxan · 11/12/2021 18:39

@2toastornot2toast

Is it 10% or 20% of the school that has covid that Public Health England closes it does anyone know?

Thanks

Doesn't seem to be being applied at schools I know of with high numbers.

Local school has over 40% of one class off because the children have tested positive. Class is still open, as it rest if school where cases are rising.

One parent took their child with symptoms for a PCR then brought them into the school for the day and a half - child was positive. Now tons of the same class are all positive too.