Most pupils return to Mortimer Community College in South Shields after Year 11 group sent home after student tested positive

The entire Year 11 group at Mortimer Community College, in South Shields, had lessons cancelled ‘as a safety precaution’ on Monday, September 14, after the news was confirmed.

Following guidance from virus experts at Public Health England however, some youngsters have been told to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution.

According to bosses at the school, a ‘proportion’ of students in the year group have been told to stay away, while a ‘higher proportion’ have now returned to the Reading Road campus, although precise numbers have not been confirmed.

The pupil who tested positive for COVID-19 did not attend school on September 14.

Existing social-distancing measures in place meant teachers and pupils with siblings in Year 11 were not advised to isolate.

Bosses at South Tyneside Council, said they were satisfied the college had taken ‘all necessary steps to help limit the spread of the virus’.

The borough remains on the ‘enhanced support’ watch list after a rise in cases.

A message from the editor

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Shields Gazette website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.shieldsgazette.com/subscriptions to sign up.

You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here: https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/.

Thank you.