A HIGH school’s entire sixth form has been sent home to isolate after a confirmed positive case of coronavirus.

Reception pupils were also forced out after a positive case in an infant school.

The confirmed cases were revealed at Shoebury High School and Bournes Green Infant School yesterday.

Ruth Brock, chief executive officer of Southend East Community Academy Trust, which runs both the schools, said: “We have planned for this contingency watching all of the changing regulations.

“It is a situation that has been foreseen and very well planned for.

“As soon as we had notification, leaders within the school were in communication with the Department for Education (DfE) who discussed the plans we had intended to put in place.”

She added: “The sixth form at Shoebury High School and the reception bubble in Bournes Green Infant School have been asked to self-isolate as a precaution in line with guidance given by the Department for Education helpline.

“All parents in the schools directly affected by the incidents have also been informed.

“We have also notified parents of all of our children in our other four schools, so that they are aware of the developing situation.

“Providing education for all of our children is our primary purpose and we will continue to do that in our usual way.”

It comes as all sixth form students at King John school were also sent home last week after a teacher and year 13 student tested positive for Covid-19.

Bosses say the staff member and student had not been to the school, in Shipwrights Drive, Benfleet, since last Monday, but took action as soon as they were informed of the positive test.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has been “pinged” by the NHS track and trace app and has begun a 14-day isolation period.

The PM has said he is “fit and well” after being in contact with Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, who subsequently fell ill with coronavirus.