The council has today raised serious concerns about primary schools safely reopening next week – and has urged the Government to support a move to online learning.
Primary, nursery and special schools are due to reopen next week though secondary schools will remain closed until later this month.
However, cases of Covid-19 in Wolverhampton have continued to rise in recent days amid concerns the new highly contagious strain of coronavirus is now circulating in the city.
Council Leader Councillor Ian Brookfield said: “As always, the safety of our pupils, teachers and school staff is paramount. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 infection rate in Wolverhampton now stands at 530 people per 100,000. We are also seeing a very high positive test rate of 23% – similar to many areas of London and the South East. As a result, we have had no choice but to escalate matters and have written to the Secretary of State for Education to express our concerns.
“We have serious concerns about schools reopening safely and are seeking Government support on all primary, nursery and special schools in Wolverhampton moving to remote learning next week, other than for children of critical workers and vulnerable children. As we await a formal response, we will continue to focus on testing arrangements for school staff and support schools in updating their risk assessments and operation plans.”
Councillor Phil Bateman added ” I will keep Wednesfield North Ward residents, and readers tuned into the results of this urgent missive to the Government, when we have the response, to the Leader of the Councils request.”
