Fairfield reopens as Ballacottier cleaned

Mothballed school back in service

The mothballed Fairfield Junior School in Tynwald Street in Douglas will re-open tomorrow morning (Tuesday) to accommodate Ballacottier Primary School pupils.

Ballacottier has been closed since Friday after an outbreak of norovirus affected more than 100 of its 270 pupils and staff.

Although the school reopened this morning, it was quickly closed again after it was discovered cleaning had not been carried out to the required standard.

While a complete decontamination is carried out at Ballacottier, pupils will transfer to Fairfield (which closed in July 2016) from tomorrow until Thursday – the school day will run 9am to 3pm for infants and until 3.30pm for juniors.

Pupils are asked to bring packed lunches and arrangements will be made to provide lunch for those entitled to free school meals.

On Friday (April 7), the school will close at 12 noon for infants and 12.30pm for juniors.

No lunch will be provided that day.

In terms of access, parents driving to the school should travel via Westmoreland Road and Tynwald Street and then turn left into Peveril Street.

Pupils should use the Peveril Street entrance to enter/leave the school with a member of Ballacottier on duty outside the building.

Parents have the option of keeping their children off school this week should they not wish to travel to the former Fairfield building.

Ballacottier will reopen as normal after the Easter holidays on Monday, April 24.

Education chiefs say the decision to close a school is never taken lightly and is apologising to parents for the disruption and thank them for their patience and cooperation.