London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

'London schools must get used to pupils self isolating on a daily basis'

'London schools must get used to pupils self isolating on a daily basis'

It's as isolated cases are breaking out at many schools across the capital
IT is likely to become normal to have a handful of pupils sent home after testing positive for coronavirus according, to a West London council’s education head.

Jan Parnell confirmed that one Year 10 child and three primary school pupils have recently tested positive at Hammersmith and Fulham schools.

It means their bubbles - or small groups of pupils - have to stay home in quarantine.

And she said: “We’ve had just a number of single outbreaks. There’s a single individual who’s tested positive. This has happened in one of our secondary schools in the last week, one single Year 10, and we’ve also had now three primaries with one single primary child testing positive.

“This is going to be something that’s happening on a daily, if not a weekly basis and our schools have been absolutely amazing in working with us in trying to contain this.”

She told the council's children's policy and accountability committee (Tues Sept 22): “We want to keep all of our schools open and working in bubbles. These are individual cases and we are taking precautions."

All schools are now open in Hammersmith and Fulham, after one school - Cambridge Road - opened partially to create more space which was provided by its neighbour Phoenix Academy.

She said head teachers were sent 292 government guidance documents since the pandemic started in March and the council helped them interpret the guidance.

And five primary schools - Avonmore, Normand Croft, St Mary’s, Addison and Melcombe - participated in Public Health England’s KIDS testing project.

The pupils and staff had swab and antibody tests at the beginning and end of the summer term with another test due in October. They all had negative results so far.

The council’s director of public health, Dr Nicola Lang, explained the schools were recruited quickly and picked because they have high numbers of BAME students to help scientists understand the virus better.

Overall 138 schools in England are involved in the study and 89 are getting weekly swab tests.

“We contributed to the national evidence which contributed to the thinking of the chief medical officer - schools were low risk settings,” Ms Parnell explained.

Nationally there were 67 individual cases with 30 outbreaks, or two or more cases, and the majority were transmissions by staff.

Pupils at the Hammersmith and Fulham schools tested negative and Dr Lang said: “We think children are less infectious under 10, it played a part in getting children back to school.”

And she said outbreaks of cases at schools “reflect what happens in the community”.

Secondary schools in the borough are now being recruited to help with the research.

Ms Parnell also explained the council has its own “recovery curriculum” to help children get back into reading, using a blend of lessons in person and digitally where necessary, and emotional support for children hit hard by the pandemic.

This followed “phenomenal” summer holiday activities in parks across the borough for 3,000 children and young people. They involved youth football and eco clubs and outdoor reading from children’s favourite books.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×