Parents Furious as Teacher Returns to Scottish School while Awaiting Covid Test Results

PARENTS at a Scottish primary school have hit out at a teacher who returned to the classroom whilst awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test.

Mums and dads complained to the school’s headmistress after learning Lisa Cinnamond, who teaches at remote Kilmartin Primary, Lochgilphead, Argyll, had returned to work a week ago just hours after posting on an online community page about booking a test for her young son. The teacher was understood to have been worried her child had picked up the virus so wanted to make sure he was ok.

A parent (who preferred not to be named) said: “When I discovered she was back in the class I was absolutely astonished. I assumed she would be self-isolating. We complained to the headteacher who told us the test had come back negative, but when we raised concerns with the council they told us the results hadn’t come back yet.”

Wendy Brownlie, education manager at Argyll and Bute Council, said via an email on Wednesday: “Firstly I am sorry that this has been your experience. Ms Cinnamond will not return to school until her own test results have returned and are also negative. We have had a full discussion with the school regarding the correct processes and procedures and are assured that they will follow the new guidance issued yesterday afternoon.”

A council spokeswoman last night confirmed a probe was underway and added: “We are looking into queries raised with us about procedures at Kilmartin Primary School and a Covid-19 test.”

Kingspark School in Dundee was closed last week after six adults tested positive for the virus, with a further spike in cases announced on Sunday. NHS Tayside said in an update on Sunday that 17 staff, two more two pupils and three community contacts had also tested positive. Two other school sites in Dundee have also been identified as a result of contact tracing connected to the Kingspark outbreak.