A Macclesfield Councillor has reported that a school in his ward saw 14 teachers off yesterday due to coronavirus.

Covid numbers are falling among schoolchildren across Cheshire East, but councillors on Monday were told of certain hotspots.

Independent Cllr David Edwardes (Macclesfield Tytherington) reported significant challenges in his ward to the Children and Families Committee on Monday.

"Tytherington High (Macclesfield) today has got 14 teachers down with Covid and they're seriously considering sending some of the children home this week," he said.

The academy falls inside the Macclesfield Tytherington COVID ward.

According to the seven days leading up to February 9 2022, there were 52 cases in Macclesfield Tytherington, the second highest in the Macclesfield area.

Macclesfield East and Hurdsfield tops the latest case data with at least 62 confirmed positive tests.

Tytherington School, which has around 1,300 pupils, was been contacted for comment.

"As is the case for many schools both nationally and locally, a significant number of staff and students are not in school as a result of testing positive for COVID, said Headteacher Emmanuel Botwe.

"I would like to thank students, staff and parents for being remarkably flexible.

"You will appreciate that this is placing an enormous strain on the school system."

The Manchester Road school will be closed to Year 8 students on Wednesday February 16 to help combat the measures.

Tytherington School will also be shut on February 17 to Year 9 and 10 students.

Cheshire East Council staff member Mark Bayley, who is Head of Service for Education Infrastructure, said the real COVID-19 hotspots for schools last week was in Congleton, parts of Macclesfield and in Wilmslow.

Mr Bayley said in terms of the data, the news is good for schoolchildren.

"Across the whole of Cheshire East, for all age groups, the rate per 100,000 was at 926, which has seen that steady fall," he said.

He said the nought to three age group, at the end of last week, was down to 329 per 100,000, compared to 620 the previous seven days; the four to 11 is currently 1,580, down from 2,813 on the previous seven days and the 12 to 16 age group is at 1,880 compared to 2,108 over the previous seven days.

"Overall, the nought to 19 age group represents 32% of all positive cases in Cheshire East across all age groups," said Mr Bayley.

He said schools were still facing challenges with staffing levels.

"Last week, we had just over 200 primary staff who were off with Covid and 92 secondary, so the feedback from our schools overall is that, while the trend is good, there are still significant challenges in the ability to maintain the level of education that we want," said Mr Bayley.

He said those hotspot areas of Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Congleton did relate to specific schools.

With regard to school attendance, Mr Bayley: "As of Thursday last week, the primary attendance rate was at 95% from those returns, which is two percentage points above the national figure and at secondary was 88% which was one percentage point above the national."

He said the rollout of the second vaccinations was continuing in secondary schools and the latest data shows that 65% of young people in Cheshire East have had that first jab and 21% of have their second.

Macclesfield: Has your kids' education been disrupted by COVID this week? Join in the conversation on our social media.

The current COVID-19 self-isolation rules can be found here.

Cllr David Edwardes also serves as the Mayor of Macclesfield.

He will visit Tytherington School next month to plant a tree there in honour of Her Majesty The Queen.

Please click here to read more about his tree planting in Macclesfield schools.

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