School bars VCE students from on-campus learning

More VCE students have been sent back to remote learning as a school revealed fears that a Covid case could arise on campus over the next two weeks.

More schools are set to pull the pin on VCE students returning to on-campus learning.

Another school has pulled the pin on campus-based learning, with more VCE students forced back to remote learning only a week after returning to the classroom.

The Herald Sun can reveal St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar has told year 11 and 12 students undertaking Unit 4 subjects they will not be returning to on-campus learning due to fears of a “a positive Covid case” arising in the school over the next two weeks.

The school’s principal Annette Rome said: “I am writing to you today to advise you all that we have made the difficult decision to return our Unit 4 VCE classes to remote learning as of Monday, October 18”.

“On Friday, October 15, we would suggest that students take home all the resources they may need for the exams and the intervening period,” she said.

Meanwhile, another school has also notified parents of a positive case of Covid, bringing the state’s total to more than a dozen.

Carey Grammar has had a student in on-site supervision at the junior school campus in Kew test positive for Covid.

A Carey Grammar student tested positive after being on-site. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Principal Jonathan Walter said all students and staff involved in the program on Monday had been tested and returned negative results. Close contacts of the infected student are isolating until cleared by the Department of Health.

Other schools have decided to stop on-site learning a week early for year 12s.

These include The King David School.

Principal Marc Light said that “we decided to take this step to minimise the risk that students may be unable to sit their examinations”.

Kilvington Grammar is also allowing year 12 students to stay onsite or revert to remote learning due to Covid concerns.

Other schools include Xavier, St Catherine’s and Genazzano.

Multiple well-placed sources have also told the Herald Sun more schools are set to pull the pin on VCE students returning to on-campus learning for the remainder of term 4, due to high Covid case numbers in the community.

Kilvington Grammar is also allowing year 12 students to stay onsite or revert to remote learning due to Covid concerns.

Education Minister James Merlino said on Wednesday: “Xavier and other independent non-government schools can make decisions as they see fit in regards to their students … year 12 students whether they’re at government schools or at non-government schools are busy preparing for exams.”

Opposition Education spokesman David Hodgett said: “If the government would provide the ability to have invigilated online exams, then students wouldn’t be forced into semi-isolation as a preventive measure to not get Covid.”

“The government needs to urgently provide an online invigilated option, plus provide students with the measure through loan computers etc so that all students can sit their exams confidently,” he said.