School closed by bug

From the archive, first published Monday 13th Feb 2006.

The city's top education politician has written to Bradford's school chief amid worries that a winter sickness virus could spread.

On Saturday, the Telegraph & Argus reported that around 120 pupils and staff at Bowling Park Primary School had been hit by a vomiting bug.

Letters were sent to parents informing them the New Cross Street School was closed today and tomorrow for extensive cleaning.

In a separate incident Zaina Haroon, five, died at her home after contracting what is believed to be a sickness bug. Although Zaina's case is not linked with her school nursery, the building at Allerton Primary closed on Friday for a thorough clean after an outbreak of sickness there.

Now Councillor Phil Thornton (Lab, Windhill and Wrose), chairman of Bradford Council's Young People and Education Committee, has written to express his concern to Education Bradford managing director John Gaskin. He said: "I have written to find out the extent of the problem and what steps they will be taking to stop incidents like this happening again.

"This situation is of concern and if it is escalating we need to take steps to make sure it is stopped.

"I would like to reassure parents that we are doing everything possible to make sure pupils' learning environment is safe.

"I am concerned that it is now affecting two schools some distance apart. If the problem escalates I will be calling for an investigation."

Meanwhile, parents with children at Bowling Park Primary said they were concerned about the effects of the bug but praised the school for its handling of the situation. Noreen Akhtar, 30, of West Bowling has two children at the school aged five and seven. Both are off sick with flu and sickness.

She said: "They were ill last week then they got better so I sent them back to school and now they are ill again. The doctor has said it is a sickness bug that is going round.

"I am worried about my children missing school because their education will suffer but I understand the school has no choice."

Jamila Shah, 29, of West Bowling, who has two children at the school, said: "I am very concerned. It is very difficult for parents to have to make arrangements for the care of children at very short notice when the school is closing or children are being sent home poorly."

Mohammed Khan, 28, of Great Horton, said his four-year-old daughter, Aneeka, had been in hospital with the bug last week. "She got really poorly and had to be admitted to hospital for six days," he said.

"They gave her oxygen for 24 hours and she is okay now but we are not really sure what it was. "I am very worried about the children and their health."

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