BRADFORD schools are urging people to be vigilant amid rising cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19. 

One primary school in the district said 120 of its pupils have had to self-isolate over the last four weeks and claimed bubble closures were due to “Covid rules NOT being followed”. 

Meanwhile, a letter sent home yesterday from Nichola Geale, headteacher at Cottingley Village Primary School, indicated concerns over the spread of the variant are increasing.

She told parents and carers: “We would like to make everyone aware of the effects of the Delta variant. This new strain of Covid 19 is 60 per cent more infectious and has a much shorter incubation period. Currently, it is taking about three days from exposure to symptoms starting. 

“It is the source of 98 per cent of all Covid cases in the country and it is rapidly increasing across our area. The Bradford district cases have more than doubled in a week and the cases are continuing to rise on a daily basis.”

She added: “Public Health England are very concerned that we are heading towards a fourth wave and have said they are contacting schools ‘with trepidation’.”

The head said the school has been asked to reinforce its “rigorous risk assessment” and added: “It is vital that we all work together to stop it spreading. 

“We currently have two bubbles closed and the whole of Reception class has been closed for two days while we wait for the outcome of a number of PCR tests”

Last Friday, Eleanor Monnery, interim head of school at Crossley Hall Primary School, Fairweather Green, said in a letter: “In the last four weeks we have had four bubble closures within school due to Covid rules NOT being followed. 

“This has affected 120 pupils in total of which all have had to self isolate at home and switch to remote learning. 

“This does not only have an impact on children’s learning but also their mental health and wellbeing. 

“It is essential that we all work together as a community to bring Covid numbers down in our area.”

Government figures have revealed the proportion of pupils out of class due to Covid-related reasons has nearly trebled in just one week.

Data released by the Department for Education (DfE) suggests that Covid-related pupil absence in state schools in England is currently at its highest rate since all schools fully reopened in March 2021.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “These statistics show a large and extremely worrying increase in the number of children absent from school for Covid-related reasons.

“It clearly reflects the climbing rate of coronavirus cases in society in general and the prevalence of the Delta variant.”

He called on the Government to think urgently about how to reduce disruption after the summer break. 

A Government spokesperson said additional measures are being taken in areas where there is a high prevalence of the virus and schools continue to have “robust protective measures” in place.

Bradford Council was asked for a comment on the current situation in the district’s schools, but did not respond by the time of going to press.