Fifth Sunderland secondary school hit by coronavirus case this week as pupils are sent home to self-isolate

Thornhill Academy head teacher Ian Redford wrote a letter to parents on September 22 to keep them informed of the situation.

The Thornholme Road school remains open but some children will be staying at home for the next two weeks.

The letter said: “The small number of children who have been in direct prolonged contact with the confirmed case will have received an individual letter and will be staying at home for 14 days.

“The school remains open and your child should continue to attend if they remain well.”

The academy joins other secondary school in the area in confirming coronavirus this week, after Seaham High School, the Venerable Bede C of E Academy in Ryhope, Bidick Academy and Washington Academy all reported cases.

Mr Redford said the school had been working closely with Public Health England on the issue.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Sunderland Echo website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.