STUDENTS have been sent home from school after a child tested positive for coronavirus at a Southampton school.

In a statement made on their Facebook page yesterday, Cantell School's headteacher, Harry Kutty, announced that a Year-8 student has tested positive for coronavirus.

The test results for the student came through yesterday, and the student and their family have been self-isolating since the symptoms started on September 11.

A class of students were sent home yesterday and have been advised to self-isolate for the rest of the week.

Mr Kutty said in a letter home to parents: "I write to inform you that this afternoon I was notified that a student in Year 8 had tested positive for Covid-19. The test result came through today. The student and their family have been self-isolating since September 11th when symptoms first began and did everything they should and could to protect themselves and others.

"Following advice from Public Health England, a class of students have been sent home this afternoon and will be self- isolating for the rest of the week. Other household members and siblings do not need to self isolate unless the students sent home start to develop symptoms this week. We have contacted all parents concerned by phone and written separately to them.

"We have also been open and transparent with the students concerned, explaining to them what was happening and offering them opportunities to ask questions. I am pleased to report they responded with great maturity beyond their years.

"I appreciate the positive case will be worrying, however, because of the time-frames concerned and our protection measures in place, I remain confident that we are able to, to the best of our ability, minimise and mitigate risk for our community.

"These remain challenging and unprecedented times, however, please rest assured the safety of our community - students, staff and parents remains my primary concern."