Coronavirus in Scottish schools: the primary and secondary schools in Scotland where there are confirmed cases of Covid-19

Scottish pupils returned to school on August 11 (Getty Images)

Children across Scotland began returning to school last week for the first time since the forced closure of education centres in March.

The restart of education has been a priority of the Scottish government since the country began slowly emerging from a coronavirus-induced lockdown, but the first week of education has been punctuated with outbreaks at schools.

The outbreaks have prompted teaching unions to call for a tightening of social distancing rules at schools, with smaller class sizes and mandatory use of face masks among older pupils included in the demands.

Full list of schools with cases

- Eight pupils from Bannerman High School in Baillieston, Glasgow (12 August)

- Two members of staff Peterhead Central School in Peterhead (12 August)

- Three pupils from St Ambrose High School in Coatbridge (13 August)

- One pupil from St Andrew's High School in Coatbridge (14 August)

- One pupil from Caldervale High School in Airdrie (16 August)

- One pupil from Todholm Primary School in Paisley (17 August)

- One pupil from Newhill Primary School in Blairgowrie (18 August)

- One pupil from Oakbank Primary School in Perth (18 August)

-One pupil from Carntyne Primary School in Glasgow (18 August)

-One pupil from Wallace Primary School in Elderslie (18 August)

- Contact tracing underway at St James’ Primary School in Renfrew (19 August)

- Contact tracing underway at Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow (19 August)

- Contact tracing underway at Edinbarnet Primary School in West Dunbartonshire (19 August)

- 31 cases linked to Kingspark School in Dundee (19-27 August)

- One case at St Albert’s Primary in Pollokshields, Glasgow (19 August)

- One member of staff at Kinmylies Primary School, Inverness (19 August)

- One pupil at Dalneigh Primary school in Inverness (19 August)

-One pupil at St Ninian's Primary school in Glasgow (20 August)

- A case linked to Oldmachar Academy forced school closure (21 August)

- One case linked to Selkirk High School (23 August)

- Three pupils from St Margaret's High School in Airdrie, Uddingston Grammar and Stepps Primary (24 August)

- Two classes at High Blantyre Primary School self-isolating (24 August)

- Class at St Peter and Paul's School in Dundee self-isolating (24 August)

- Contact tracing taking place at John Paul Academy, Carntyne Primary, St Ninian's Primary, Kelvinside Academy and St Andrew's Secondary in Glasgow, as well as Killermont Primary School in East Dunbartonshire and Edinbarnet Primary in West Dunbartonshire.

-One case at Balbardie Primary School in Bathgate (25 August)

- One case at St Clement's Primary School in Dundee (25 August)

- One case at Grove Academyin Dundee (25 August)

- Contacts traced at Dalry Primary and nursery campus, Granton Primary School in Edinburgh, Dalkeith High School and Lasswade High School in Midlothian. (August 25 to 27)

- Once case at Preston Tower Primary in Prestonpans (26 August)

- One new case at First Steps Nursery School in Hamilton; Holycross High School, Hamilton, Stonelaw High School in Rutherglen, and a staff member at Udston Primary School, Hamilton (August 31)

- Aileymill Primary, Greenock; Twechar Primary, Twechar; St Monica's Primary, Pollock; Knightswood Secondary, Glasgow; Gartconnor Primary, Kirkintilloch; Our Lady and St Patrick's High School, Dumbarton and Glasgow Gaelic Secondary School all subject to test and tracing measures.

- One case at Balfron High School near Glasgow (September 4)

- Cases at Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline with class told to stay at home (September 1)

-One case at Gracemount High School in Edinburgh (September 7)

What is causing the cases?

On 18 August, a spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire said there was no evidence of transmission taking place within schools.

“Unregulated house parties” have been suggested as one cause for the clusters, with national clinical director Jason Leitch saying this was an area “of real concern.”

Leitch told BBC Drivetime, "This our first real palpable example of [house parties] giving people positive infections of a virus that can make us very sick.”

Leitch also raised fears that families are ignoring quarantine rules and sending children back to school soon after a holiday abroad.

What will happen if there is an outbreak at my child’s school?

If a school or college experiences an outbreak - either because they have two or more confirmed cases of coronavirus among pupils or staff in their setting within 14 days, or they see an increase in pupil or staff absence rates due to suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus - they will need to contact their local health protection team.

This team will advise if additional action is required, though the closure of the whole school or college will generally not be necessary.

Where an outbreak in a school is confirmed, a mobile testing unit may be dispatched to test others who may have been in contact with the person who has tested positive. Testing will first focus on the person’s class, followed by their year group, then the whole school, if necessary.

Strict measures are in place at schools to ensure that the disease is not transmitted on site.

In the event of an outbreak parents should visit the school’s council page and follow advice. The majority of impacted schools have remained open and carried on “as normal.”