More Wiltshire pupils sent home after Covid-19 cases

Three schools and a college in Wiltshire have sent students home after positive tests for coronavirus.

Kingsbury Green Academy in Calne has closed its sixth form and Avon Valley College in Durrington has sent 65 year 10 students home.

Twelve pupils in Year 6 and 8 at Springfield Academy, also in Calne, are self-isolating until 28 September.

At Bulford St Leonard's Primary, 35 Year 5 pupils and three staff will remain at home until 26 September.

Kingsbury's 110 pupils and three staff members will self-isolate until 30 September.

Kingsbury and Bulford have both arranged for pupils to continue learning at home while self-isolating.

On Tuesday, 284 Year 9 students at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy were told to self-isolate and take classes remotely for 14 days.

One student tested positive at Avon Valley which means students will self-isolate until 21 September. The college is run by Salisbury Plain Academies Trust, which also runs Bulford St Leonards.

Pupils at St Augustine's College in Trowbridge, Brook Field Primary and Lainesmead Primary in Swindon, St Margaret's Prep School in Calne, and Trinity Primary in Devizes have also been sent home.

Head teacher at Kingsbury Green Academy, Jason Tudor, said: "We have written to all parents and carers to explain the situation, and we really appreciate their understanding and support as we know this will cause some unfortunate disruption for the Year 12 and 13 pupils and their families.

"The safety of everyone within our school community is our top priority and we'll continue to work with Wiltshire Council and Public Health England to ensure this is managed closely and that the rest of the school can continue as before."

Wiltshire director of public health Kate Blackburn said: "These are very precautionary measures so that the risk of any transmission within the school communities is kept as low as possible."