A SENIOR Wrexham councillor has refused to be drawn on plans for tackling coronavirus outbreaks in schools.

It follows one school in the county borough initially being unable to reopen at the end of June due to a positive test for COVID-19.

Whilst it was advised that no staff member at St Mary’s Primary School had tested positive, it resulted in a significant number being unavailable for work.

The school has since started accepting pupils this week, but children have only been able to return on a reduced basis compared to the original reopening plans.

When questioned on what support was offered to schools where someone has contracted the virus, Wrexham Council’s lead member for education said a large number of risk assessments had been carried out.

During a media briefing held this week, Cllr Phil Wynn added he was confident there were “robust processes” in place if someone experienced symptoms, but did not provide further details.

His executive board colleague David Kelly said he was unaware what had happened at the Brymbo school, but understood the local authority’s guidelines meant they wouldn’t necessarily need to shut down.

When asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service what specifically triggered the school’s closure, Cllr Wynn declined to answer and said he would prefer to focus on the “good work” in education since the pandemic began.

He said: “I know you’re after a news story, but this has been and gone.

“There’s lots to celebrate in Wrexham, which I hope we’ve outlined.

“Just focusing on one issue, I think we’re not actually recognising all the good work that’s going on in all the schools in Wrexham since March.”

He added: “There’s so much that I haven’t even touched on. Like, for instance, governors have stepped up to the plate.

“They’ve actually been doing their meetings now digitally, which was unthought of before March.”

According to a letter issued by the school’s headteacher last week, new plans to allow youngsters to access the “check in, catch up and prepare” sessions had to be drawn up in light of the positive case.

Austin Bowers said it had only been able to offer two days and was not able to accommodate siblings on the same day.

He added staff would make every effort to ensure social distancing, but advised parents it was “at your understanding of the risk” that they could return their children to the school.

The council’s chief executive Ian Bancroft said: “It’s been well reported in the press, and we would have nothing to add.

“There’s nothing more to it then than what you’ve seen.

“It’s out there in terms of what the situation is, and we would have nothing to add in terms of that there’s no additional reasons.”