Students in Year 9 at Biddulph High School have been told to begin isolating at home immediately after a member of their year group tested positive for Coronavirus.

Students and parents were informed of the positive test result yesterday (Monday) in a letter by the school's head teacher, Simon Ascroft.

Students who have been told to isolate will be able to return to school on Thursday, 24th September if they are still feeling well at that time.

Work for students will be provided via the Microsoft Teams platform during the isolation time period.

Mr Ascroft said: "We have been advised by the West Midlands Health Protection Team that one of our Year 9 students has received a positive Covid-19 test result. The student will be isolating for 10 days and all other members of the family will be isolating for 14 days.

"All students in Year 9 must isolate at home with immediate effect. Other members of the household do not need to isolate (including siblings in other year groups here at school) provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 14 day isolation period.

"We are asking you to do this to reduce the further spread of Covid-19 to others in the community."

He added: "We are also hopeful that the extensive measures that we have put into place at the school will have been successful in avoiding the spread of the virus across year groups."

Students were also told they did not need to request a test unless they were showing symptoms of the virus.

Each year group has been taught in their own 'bubble' since returning to the school earlier this month.

Biddulph Nub News reported previously how students at the school were asked to wear masks between lessons.

The wearing of masks had been recommended, but was not compulsory.

Now however, in another letter, students have also been informed that they are required to wear masks as mandatory between lessons.

Biddulph Nub News contacted Biddulph High School for comment yesterday (Monday) but has not yet received a response.