Derbyshire school leader issues rallying call after confirming positive coronavirus case

Steve Huntington, executive principal at Heanor Gate Science College, made the rallying call after a girl in Year 10 at the school tested positive for coronavirus last week. Cases of Covid-19 have also been confirmed at several other schools in Amber Valley, including Aldecar High School, Howitt Primary Community School and Mundy Junior School.

Mr Huntington, who has been in post at the school which teaches around 1,300 pupils since 2016, said: “If we are going to keep schools and businesses open then we have all got to take on board where we are.

"Within one week we have all had confirmed cases. I feel as though it’s going to get worse and I don’t want to be in a position where we have to close the school and shops will have to close because it’s really going to damage the community.”

He added: “As a Heanor community we have got a joint responsibility that we don’t accelerate the virus and we make sure all our shops and businesses remain open because it’s really important for everyone, both economically and for their mental health.”

As well as positive cases being confirmed at schools, there have been several complaints about a lack of social distancing at entrance gates and among students. Mr Huntington admitted keeping people two metres apart is almost impossible inside classrooms where up to 29 pupils are congregated.

Still, staggered start times, breaks and year group ‘bubbles’ have helped to prevent unnecessary mixing inside the school, he said, and he called on parents to do their bit outside the classroom.

He said: “We need everybody to take on board what’s being said with the new rules. We have got to make sure 20 kids aren’t on the park and 10 are around someone's house.

“It’s obviously inevitable that there are going to be cases. The science suggests it’s not a huge issue for kids, which we accept and understand, but the real concern is there will be one kid somewhere who it’s a real concern for. The big concern really is the staff as they get older they are going to be more at risk.”