Following a positive coronavirus case and advice from Public Health England, 210 students in a Year 7 bubble at Ralph Allen School, in Combe Down have been told to self-isolate for 14 days.

The school is following the existing guidance for non-clinical settings advice, including providing staff and pupils with guidance on social distancing and hygiene to limit spread. The school is open for pupils in other year groups and the Year 7 students will return on Monday 5 October.

Dr Bruce Laurence, Director for Public Health at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: "We are working with the school and PHE to manage the situation in the safest way possible for the pupils, staff and wider community.

"While the rate of infection in our area remains low, it is increasing and we collectively must take all the right steps to break the chain of transmission to slow down the spread of Covid-19. Of course, one of the most important reasons to limit any increase in cases is so that we can keep our children in school as much as possible and avoid further disruption to their education."

Headteacher Andy Greenhough added: "Yesterday was our first confirmed case of Covid-19 within the student body. I am afraid cases around the country are inevitable and all schools are continuing to manage the guidelines within their own schools. The Year 7s have made an excellent start but will now have to be isolated until Monday 5 October. "

Mike Wade, Deputy Director of Health Protection at Public Health England South West, said: "PHE South West is working closely with the school to provide public health advice to stop the virus spreading. Everyone should be following the hands, face, space advice."