Deeplish Primary Academy to close for Christmas a week earlier than other schools

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Deeplish Primary Academy

UPDATE 25 November 2020: Deeplish Primary Academy will no longer close a week early for Christmas as the Department for Education has overturned the decision.

<p class='newslink'><span class='readmore'>Read more:</span> <a target='blank' href='/news-features/2/news-headlines/137784/department-for-education-overturns-decision-to-close-deeplish-primary-academy-early-for-christmas'><span class='newstitle'>Department for Education overturns decision to close Deeplish Primary Academy early for Christmas</span><span class='dateonline'>Published: 25 November 2020</span></a></p>

Deeplish Primary Academy is one of 15 North West schools which will close on 11 December for the Christmas holidays.

The school, which is run by the Focus Trust, will close a week earlier than planned for the Christmas holidays, but the time will be made up later in the school year when 'safe and practical'.

The trust says the decision has come to 'safeguard the wellbeing of staff and pupils and protect precious family time together'.

Focus Trust’s Chief Executive Helen Rowland said: “Our priority is always to safeguard the mental and physical health and wellbeing of our children and staff, and every decision we make is with their best interests, and those of our local communities in mind.

“Since our schools re-opened to all pupils in September, we have followed the government guidelines which stipulate that bubble groups should isolate for a period of two weeks if exposed to, and at risk of spreading, the virus.”

She added that since September, the trust has had to ‘close bubbles’ in 13 of its 15 schools, totalling 1,740 children and 375 staff who have had to self-isolate – “28% of our children and 38% of our staff.”

Ms Rowland continued: “We recognise the short notice may be an issue for some families, but we hope that by taking the proactive and practical approach of extending the break, we can ensure that no-one is forced to self-isolate over the holiday period because of someone they have come into contact with at school.

“The time will be made up later in the school year when it is safe and practical to do so and families will be informed of the new dates as soon as possible.”