A HEAD teacher has reassured parents that all Covid-19 safety measures are in place after a second confirmed case at a North-East secondary school.

Two pupils at Hummersknott Academy, in Darlington, are now being treated as confirmed cases of coronavirus.

This is in addition to cases just four days after children returned to school, when the school confirmed a Year 7 student had its first case of Covid-19 as a meeting of Darlington Borough Council’s children and young people scrutiny committee heard getting back to classes was proving challenging.

Parents were informed this afternoon and Principal James Keating has reassured them that the school is following strict regulations laid down by the Government.

Mr Keating said: “I wish to reassure everyone connected with the school that we are fully engaged with Public Health England, and following all precautions to the finest detail to minimise the risk and be as safe as it is possible to be.”

The precautions in place at Hummersknott Academy include: The compulsory wearing of facemasks in all communal areas; staggered start and finish times for all year groups; separate entry and exit points for all year groups; strict year group bubbles during the school day; separate break and lunchtimes areas and times for each year group.

There will also be enhanced cleaning regimes and access to sanitisers; limited numbers in each class; and planned routes of movement to avoid bubbles crossing.