School campus closed for 14 days due to outbreak

The school has some 600 pupils – mainly year 11 and 12 – based at campuses in Portadown and Lurgan. As part of the local ‘Dickson Plan’, it sees children in the area transition through junior high schools in the area until they are 14.

Over the weekend the Portadown campus – which teaches three-quarters of the pupils – closed, with students from that campus now being taught remotely.

Principal Ruth Harkness told the News Letter: “The Portadown campus of Craigavon Senior High School has been closed due to a Covid outbreak, with all pupils and staff being encouraged to take a test.”

The outbreak began after the extended half-term holiday, she said, although the numbers of possible pupils and staff involved are not being disclosed to protect their privacy, she said.

The Lurgan campus is operating as normal.

“We have test results still due in from Sunday – including my own – because it was the right thing to do to be tested and obviously I am isolating until that comes back. But I am mindful that behind every statistic there is a child, a staff member and the community.”

The Public Health Agency provided a mobile testing unit at the campus on Saturday and Sunday.

Ms Harkness said she was not aware that any pupils or staff had been hospitalised.

The campus is now closed for 14 days and when all test results come back the school will create a plan with the PHA to reopen safely, she added.

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart said her thoughts were with everyone who has contracted the virus. “I want to commend the school for their swift actions in trying to get this outbreak under control,” she said.

Upper Bann SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly added: “Thanks to the swift action of school leaders, we’re seeing a robust plan being implemented quickly that will ensure as little disruption as possible.”