More than 90 per cent of children return to school in Dudley and Sandwell
Children in Sandwell and Dudley have flocked back to school – despite ongoing fears of Covid-19.
Council bosses in the two boroughs say over 90 per cent of pupils returned to the classroom last week after an enforced six-month absence.
But coronavirus has not gone away, with three schools reporting positive or suspected infections within days of re-opening their doors.
Wordsley School on Brierley Hill Road and Wodensborough Ormiston Academy in Wednesbury each reported a single positive case, while Crocketts Community Primary reopened on Wednesday following a negative test on a staff member.
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Councillor Ruth Buttery, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said that over 92 per cent of children had now returned.
“After what has been a very challenging few months, I am incredibly proud of how well school staff, parents and the children have coped with the successful return to school albeit with a new normal," she said.
“We’re really pleased with overall attendance and hope this demonstrates the confidence parents have to send their children back to school.
"We will continue to support our schools every step of the way as they embed new ways of working.”
In Sandwell, nine out of ten children returned to the borough’s 117 primary and secondary schools in a phased return to classes.
Councillor Joyce Underhill, cabinet member for best start in life, said: “Our schools and academies have put in place strict measures to keep our children safe.
"I would like to thank school staff, families and the pupils themselves for working so hard to get Sandwell children safely back to the classroom.”
