SCHOOLS in Blackburn with Darwen reported more than 900 cases of Covid-19 last year.

In data revealed by a freedom of information request to Blackburn with Darwen council, 942 cases have been reported in Blackburn with Darwen's schools since September.

The data provides details of all reported positive cases for schools in Blackburn with Darwen up from September 3 to November 23 and includes cases recorded at all maintained schools, academies and free schools in the borough.

The Lancashire Telegraph also requested information about the number of pupils per school which was provided from the last validated school census in January 2020.

The Heights Free School in Fernhurst has reported 30 cases of the virus, which, due to the school having 70 pupils, means that the school has seen a high prevalence of the virus amongst staff and pupils.

In the week commencing September 28, the school reported 22 cases of the virus, with a further six reported the following week (week commencing October 3), one in the week commencing October 10 and one further case in the week commencing November 8.

The Heights Free School said it was unable to comment.

St Wilfrid's School Academy in Blackburn reported 75 cases of Covid-19 since returning in September. The most recent census data shows the school has 1,476 pupils, meaning that although, they have reported a high number of cases, it is expected due to it being a larger school.

Head teacher Catherine Huddleston said: “The wellbeing and safety of our students and staff is absolutely paramount. While we have had a number of individual cases we have managed these swiftly and responsibly and have not had to close a whole year group in this time.

“All staff at St Wilfrid’s have worked incredibly hard over this period to make sure we are as Covid-secure as possible.

“We have worked closely with the council including rigorous health and safety reviews and clear safety routines for pupils to follow.

“Our staff are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards and we are constantly reiterating and reviewing these processes to further toughen up all our safety aspects including hygiene and social distancing to minimise any risks to students and staff.”

Newfield School on Old Bank Lane has reported 21 positive cases in a school of 178 pupils, while Audley Junior School have seen 46 positive cases out of 428 pupils.

Head teacher of Audley Junior school, Susan Aldred said: “As a school, we have worked incredibly hard to reduce any risks to children and staff and have worked very closely with the local authority to put health and safety processes in place. These include robust systems in place to help with hygiene and social distancing.

“The majority of our coronavirus cases have affected staff and we are dedicated to continuing the children’s education, looking after their wellbeing and keeping them as safe as possible.”

At Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School have seen 62 cases recorded, with 620 pupils, while its sister school Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School have reported 54 cases and have 838 children on their register.

Some schools in the borough did not reported any positive cases of the virus, with St James C of E Primary in Darwen and St Aidan's, which are ran by Cidari Multi Academy Trust, have both reported no cases of the virus.

Chief Operating Officer, Cidari Multi Academy Trust, Matt McIver said: "Across all of our ten academies we have put in place robust systems and processes to mitigate the impact and risks relating to Covid-19, however the lack of cases at Darwen St James and St Aidan's is down to good fortune and timing in the community in the identifying of symptomatic persons and positive cases, and isolating quickly before they can have an impact on the Academy.

"Our Covid-19 mitigation is robust, and deemed through several HSE inspections across the Trust to be exemplary. Whilst these measures reduce the risk of transmission in school, to suggest that this factor alone is the reason for no cases would infer that other schools which have had positive cases, including within our own Trust, are deficient in some way, which I assure you is not the case.

"The visible impact of the virus is different across our communities and there are many local factors influencing why some schools are more affected than others.

"With the new, more transmissible strain, we have reviewed our safety measures to ensure that our Academies remain as safe as possible.

"However, the measures and safeguards we take within our school gates can only be effective with the support of the communities we serve adhering to government advice and instruction during this current lockdown."

Belmont Community Primary School, Ashworth Nursery and Brunel Nursery have also reported no cases of Covid-19.

If a school does receive report a positive case, guidance from Blackburn with Darwen council states that a child who has been in close contact with another child who has tested positive for the virus in the previous 48 hours then they must self-isolate for 10 days.

Over the weekend, the National Education Union (NEU), which represents the majority of teachers, called for all English primary schools to move online and advised its members not to return to classrooms on Monday. Many teachers stood with their unions, with schools across the country closing on Monday because of the move.

Since this, the Prime Minister has now closed schools across the country, as part of the national lockdown, to all pupils except those of key workers and children identified as vulnerable, with other children learning at home.

The NEU’s assistant branch secretary for Blackburn with Darwen, Andrew Pratt said: “Whilst there may be some children that tested positive for Covid-19, there may still be more positive cases but not displaying symptoms as they could be asymptomatic.

“The NEU’s position is that whilst Covid-19 may not display within children, the closure of schools is not just for the children but for the teachers and the parents.

“The closure is something that absolutely needed to happen.”

“We are lucky in Blackburn with Darwen that the council support all of the schools and all of the unions decisions. They have been fantastic throughout this in supporting us.”