Two more schools in the Ashford area have had to enforce home-learning for certain year groups following Covid-19 outbreaks.

This week, both the John Wallis Academy and Tenterden's Homewood School have already confirmed they have send year groups home due to outbreaks.

Today, another secondary school - Highworth Grammar School - verified reports that its Year 12 group was studying from home.

Headteacher Paul Danielsen said: "Owing to the number of Year 12 students self-isolating and the number of confirmed positive cases in that year group, we have made the decision, following advice from Public Health England, to make Wednesday 9 December the last day for Year 12 on site this term.

"Year 12 students will be supported with remote learning and the rest of the school remains open for all other students."

Despite rumours suggesting it was ending the term early, Highworth has confirmed the last day of term will remain December 18.

This is at least the second time the school has sent home students following an outbreak.

Elsewhere in the Ashford Borough, Furley Park Primary Academy will also be sending pupils home due to Covid-19.

The school's head, Emma Collip, said: "We can confirm that 4 classes have been sent home to self-isolate after 4 individuals tested positive.

"The school has followed Public Health England guidance and closed these classes on their advice. Learning for these classes continues online.

"The parents of the effected pupils have been informed and the school remains open for all other classes.”

A vast number of schools in Ashford and the county have been forces to close or send classes home sue to coronavirus outbreaks.

Despite fresh hope due to the rollout of vaccinations, the scene in Ashford is not looking to optimistic.

Case numbers have spiked in the last two weeks, with the weekly rate of cases per 100,000 continuing to hit new heights each day.

On Sunday, the daily number of infections hit an all-time high with 67 new confirmed cases.

Ashford's MP Damian Green said it is "worrying the way the rate's going up in Ashford, especially at a time when the rate's going down across the rest of the country."

Ashford had one of the lowest infection rates in the county when the new Tier system was announced, however it is now 'well above' the national average according to government statistics.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford