Primary schools across Lancaster and Morecambe remain closed amid Covid-19 fears

Headteachers in the district have joined others from across the county in not reopening, despite reassurances from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and local health officials yesterday.

This follows calls for a new national lockdown after the Government was accused by Labour of letting coronavirus “get out of control”.

Many of the schools will continue to open for key workers and vulnerable children.

Lancashire County Council bosses said they encouraged primary schools to open, but said the final decision will be left to individual headteachers, with the authority promising them support "to help make the right decision for their pupils and staff."

The news comes as latest government figures show that almost a quarter of all coronavirus cases in the Lancaster district are among children and teenagers.

Tests carried out on December 18 - the end of the school term - showed that 20 per cent of positive tests were from 0 to 19-year-olds.

By December 29, this had risen to 24.2 per cent, with increases particularly among the 0-4 and 10-14 age ranges.

Bowerham Primary and Nursery School head Joanne Banks said on the school's social media on Sunday evening: "We are very sorry, but the Chair of Governors and I have made the decision to unavoidably close Bowerham School tomorrow. Bowerham Kids Club will also be closed tomorrow.

"We do not feel it is safe to open due to the uncertainty of staffing and the ongoing review of our risk assessment. It is our intention to open on Tuesday 5th January for key worker and vulnerable families for the rest of the week.

"Please keep a close eye on parent app and emails for updates, as more information will be coming out tomorrow."

A statement from Trumacar headteacher Paul Slater said: "Please can everyone be aware that every school in the country is having to react to a rapidly changing situation at the moment with changing advice and guidance about the new Covid strain coming in thick and fast.

"We are trying to keep you as informed as we possibly can and closing the school tomorrow was a last resort in order for us to fully review the school's Covid Risk Assessment to keep your children and the whole staff team as safe as possible.

"Plans may yet change depending on what Government and Local Authority advice we get tomorrow...or the day after...or...Thank you as ever for your support."

Moorside Primary School in Lancaster has also taken the decision to remain closed. According to the Lancashire County Council School Closures web page, the school will remain close "as a result of advice from unions, in response to rising infection levels and a new strain of Covid 19".

The school will still be open for children of key workers and and vulnerable children, with online learning being provided for all other students.

The full closure of Dallas Road Community Primary School has been added to the Lancashire County Council School Closure online page.

Dallas Road was due to reopen on Tuesday, but this will now be for key workers' children and vulnerable children. Parents have been told it will remain closed for two weeks initially.

The reason listed on the page said: "Industrial action, Excessive Staff Absence, 2/3 of teaching staff have written claiming S44 & S100 of health and safety legislation. Therefore there are insufficient staff to safely open the school. Provision will be made for key workers' children and those recognised as being vulnerable. Learning will be provided through a shared online platform."

Great Wood School in Morecambe and Torrisholme Primary School are also closed, along with Morecambe Bay Primary School, while Castle View Primary School in Lancaster and Lancaster Road Primary School in Morecambe stated on their social media that they were to open as planned today.

St Peter's Primary School in Heysham is open to all classes except Sanderling Class, which is only open to critical workers and vulnerable children.

Sam Ud-din, Lancaster & Morecambe District Secretary for the National Education Union (NEU), said: "Schools have had to manage since March last year with the consistently poor and late actions of the Department for Education, its Secretary of State, and the government in general in dealing with Covid-19 in every of its aspects.

"With the current state of inadequate PPE provision, impossible-to-apply social distancing and ventilation suggestions, unreliable tests and lack of testing infrastructure, amidst a rapidly spreading new variant, much more contagious than the original, the NEU has told its members that it is no longer possible to just 'hope for the best' and that schools are not currently safe enough for any adults working in them.

"No schools have even had time to undertake and share new Risk Assessments with us to explain fully how they expect work to be safe enough for all staff.

"This view is also held by the two head-teacher unions - and we will all support every member fully who decides to use the Section44 Employment legislation to protect themselves, their families and their communities from the clear risks that travelling to and being at work in crowded schools involve.

"To be clear, all our members will continue, as they have throughout since March, to support vulnerable children and children of essential keyworkers and be available to support online teaching, unless they themselves are ill."

*We will continue to update this story with more news as we get it.