A school near Brecon was forced to close after almost half of all the pupils and staff tested positive for Coronavirus.

Cradoc Primary School took the emergency decision to shuts its doors earlier this week after approximately 40% of pupils and 50% of staff received a positive result from Covid-19 from PCR or Lateral Flow tests.

The decision to close the school, which is roughly two and a half miles outside of the town, was announced by Powys County Council on Monday, September 20, which it said will be shut at least for the rest of this week with remote learning in place so that pupils can continue with their lessons - a decision will be made later this week on whether the school will reopen next week.

The Powys council cabinet member for education confirmed that Cradoc Primary School had closed despite its “best efforts” to reduce the spread of Coronavirus saying that the safety of staff and pupills is the main concern.

The primary school is the first Powys County Council school which has been forced to close since the start of the new school term following the summer.

Cllr Phyl Davies, cabinet member for education, said: “After much consideration, a decision was taken by Cradoc Primary School Governing Body on Monday, September 20 to shut the school.

“Despite the schools’ best efforts to reduce the spread of infection by limiting contact groups, daytime cleaning, handwashing, ventilation and so on, a rapid growth of positive cases in school has unfortunately led to a tipping point.

"Although we appreciate the disruption that this emergency closure may have on families, the safety of our pupils and staff must remain paramount and the council will continue to support the school over the coming days.

Cllr Davies said the school “strongly encourages” all staff and pupils from year seven upwards to take lateral flow tests twice a week on a Sunday and a Wednesday - these can be collected from libraries and pharmacies throughout Powys, and they can be ordered online.

He also emphasised the council’s expectation that they are “good hygiene” regimes in schools such as regular handwashing for all staff and pupils both at school and at home which Cllr Davis said “will help prevent the spread of the virus.”

Schools are also being advised to host open evenings and parents evenings remotely this term rather than in person at the school.

Cllr Davies said: “We thank you for your co-operation to date and hope that things can be back to normal as soon as possible.”

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