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More on KentOnline
A secondary school has sent home the whole of Year 11 after a pupil tested positive for Covid-19.
Rainham Mark Grammar School made the decision to send approximately 210 pupils home after head teacher Alan Moore dubbed the case "inevitable".
Rainham Mark Grammar School made the decision to send approximately 210 pupils home after head teacher Alan Moore dubbed the case "inevitable".
He said: "We have had a confirmed case of coronavirus for a student in year 11 and the parents have done the correct thing and kept the student home and taken the test.
"The student hasn't been back since she has developed symptoms and will be isolating for two weeks.
"We have made the decision to send Year 11 home and they will not be back for 14 days and will return on October 2.
"All other students and staff have not been exposed to the individual and will continue as usual unless symptoms develop.
"We will continue to remotely teach and support the students."
"It was almost inevitable this was going to happen, I just wish it hadn't happened to the year 11s who have exams this year and I hoped we would make it to half term."
The school has spoken to each student in the year group and continues to monitor the situation.
Mr Moore continued: "I'm absolutely behind keeping students in schools because they've missed out on a lot of their education and the overwhelming feeling that I get from speaking to students and staff is that they're glad to be back.
"It's so good for everyone's mental health and well-being.
"Regardless of how good our supportive remote learning and remote teaching is, it just isn't as good as being in school- you can't replicate that through online lessons."
