A secondary school has closed its doors to in person learning after several staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio on Police Street, Darwen, has shut the doors until at least next Thursday due to teachers being off with the virus. Instead, pupils will be learning online like they did during lockdown.

On their Facebook page, a number of parents shared their concerns, with the school replying it was ‘not a decision they had taken lightly’ and that the staff hope that a short lockdown will be ‘better than prolonged random isolations’ in which students ‘cannot be supported online’.

Several other schools across the country have closed their doors while others have cancelled nativity plays because of rising infection rates.

The school has been contacted for comment.