Get the latest news from Manx.News

Investigation into Ballacottier deep clean problems

Mon, 03 Apr 2017

The Department of Education and Children will investigate why sufficient cleaning was not carried out at the school affected by a norovirus outbreak.

Ballacottier Primary School has been forced to close its doors to pupils for a second time after the Headteacher was unhappy with the standard of the deep clean carried out over the weekend.

The school was closed on Friday after more than 100 of the 270 children on the register were affected by the bug.

However, it was discovered this morning that the cleaning was not to the required standard, forcing the school to keep children outside and in the sports hall while Public Health was consulted.

The DEC confirmed it will investigate why the deep clean wasn't completed properly and what lessons can be learned, while specialist materials will be used over the coming days to clean the building again.

The Department is working to find alternative premises to accommodate the students in the mean time, but says parents can keep their kids at home until Ballacottier reopens if they don't want to send their children to another site.

The school says it will remain closed until after the Easter break, but the DEC is hoping the building will be open again by the end of the week - updates will be released on the school's website and the Department's social media pages.

---