PUPILS at three high schools have been told they need to go home and self-isolate after positive tests for coronavirus.

Year 9 pupils at Witton Park Academy and Blackburn Central High School have informed that they should self-isolate for 14 days after positive tests among students.

It is believed also according to reports that Year 8 students at Witton have also been sent home too.

Headteacher Andy Burton, headteacher of Witton Park Academy sent messages to parents this morning.

He said: "Apologies I know the school year has already started however we have had a positive test result of Covid 19 from a pupil in year 9.  

"We are therefore having to send all of year 9 home.  All pupils need to be aware of symptoms appearing.  

"The advice from Public Health is that all pupils in year 9 will need to isolate for 14 days from yesterday.

"We will send a further letter today to clarify.  Education will continue on Google Classroom."

Mrs Shanaz Hussain, headteacher of Blackburn Central High School posted a statement on the school's website as one of their Year 9 students has been self-isolating since Tuesday 8th September has now tested positive for COVID-19.

She said: "As a precautionary measure and following advice from Public Health England North West, we have been advised to ask all of our Year 9 students to self-isolate for a period of 12 days which means a return to school on 22nd September.

"We have adhered to all the guidelines from Public Health England and Blackburn with Darwen Local Authority. We have a robust risk assessment in place. This is a precautionary measure ensuring the safety of all pupils. As per government guidelines, school will be open as normal for Years 8, 10 and 11.

"Our Year 9 students need to access learning from home and not return until Tuesday 22nd September.

"Lessons for Year 9 will take place on Google classroom as we have operated previously and will be available by the end of today. Google Classroom can be accessed on any electronic device with internet connection. Anyone having difficulty with this please contact school.

"If you have any questions or concerns about this partial, temporary closure, please contact me at your convenience. I can only apologise for this significant disruption."

It comes after two days ago the Lancashire Telegraph reported that Year 7 students from Blackburn Central High School had been told to self-isolate after a positive test among one of their pupils.

Also this morning parents of pupils at Mount Carmel High School in Accrington were told that their Year 7 pupils should stay away after a pupil tested positive for coronavirus.

School bosses said they were asking all students in the year-group to remain at home on Friday as a 'precautionary measure'.

A statement on Mount Carmel's website, which was posted on Thursday evening, read: "As a precautionary measure we are asking that all pupils in year seven stay at home tomorrow (Friday September 11).

"This is following a confirmed case of Covid-19 tonight with a year seven pupil.

"Work will be set online for all lessons for all year seven pupils using Show My Homework.

"All other year groups should attend school tomorrow as normal.

"We have worked really hard to ensure all pupils stay in year group bubbles so we can deal with incidents like this and pupils in other year groups will not be affected.

"We will be in touch with further information once we have further guidance from Public Health England."

This announcement follows a class from Lammack Primary School and a year from Pleckgate High School who were told of positive coronavirus cases and instructed students as a precautionary measure to self-isolate.

Another school reported to have contacted parents, is The Valley Leadership Academy in Stacksteads, Rossendale.

The school was forced to send year 11 pupils home after one of them tested positive for coronavirus.

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School also reported a student had been sent home after contracting the virus.

Barnoldswick Coates Lane Primary School

Barnoldswick Coates Lane Primary School recently confirmed the positive case at the school, but did not make clear whether it was a student or a teacher.

The school has not currently closed but parents have been informed and they are now taking precautions to monitor the situation.

Sarah White, headteacher at the school, said: "We have been advised of a positive case and following our procedures a number of individuals who may have been in close contact have been asked to isolate.

"We have a very detailed risk assessment in place for just this sort of incident and are following our plans carefully.

"Parents have been kept fully informed."

Unity College, Burnley

More than two dozen pupils were sent home to self-isolate after a child tested positive for coronavirus on the first day of school last week.

Unity College in Burnley confirmed a Year 7 pupil contracted the virus on September 2.

It was the first day many children were returning to the classroom after a six-month absence.

In a statement on the school's website, Headteacher Mrs Sally-Jane Cryer said: "At the start of the afternoon of Wednesday 2 September 2020, I was contacted by a parent of a child in year 7 to inform me that the year 7 child has tested positive for Covid-19.

"The boy and his family have been part of the government's track and trace pilot and are tested weekly. The parents do not have the virus but the year 7 child does have it.

"The boy has had no symptoms at all.

"The college took immediate action and isolated the boy and his family collected him immediately.

"The parents of all the other students in the child’s bubble, 25 year 7 students in total have been contacted and all 25 have been sent home this afternoon and told to self-isolate for 14 days.”

St Anne’s and St Joseph’s School, Accrington

One class from St Anne’s and St Joseph’s School in Accrington must stay at home until September 21 in line with government guidance.

It is not known if the positive test, which was confirmed on Monday, came from staff or a pupil, but all students who have come into contact with the infected person must now self-isolate for 14 days.

It is understood that the affected class is a mix of years five and six containing around 24 pupils.

St. Christopher's C.E High School, Accrington

St. Christopher's C.E High School in Accrington has remained open despite the two cases, urging parents to keep children at home for at least 10 days if they develop symptoms.

The two students are experiencing very mild symptoms of the illness and are not thought to be particularly unwell

A spokesman for the school said: "We have been made aware earlier today that two children in our school community have tested positive for COVID-19.

"Currently they are feeling well, but I am sure that you will want to remember them in your prayers over the coming days."

 - Have your children been told to go home due to positive cases of coronavirus email robert.kelly@nqnw.co.uk.