Deal 's only secondary school is dealing with its first two confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Five weeks into the new term, Goodwin Academy has announced both a teacher and a Year 10 pupil have contracted the virus.

Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT), which manages the school, and principal Simon Smith believe they have taken all appropriate action to ensure the safety of others working and learning on the site.

This includes contacting parents of potentially affected pupils and issuing advice from some to self isolate for two weeks.

A spokesperson for the school said: “The health and safety of our students and staff is paramount - ensuring that has been our absolute priority and at the forefront of every decision we have made as a school during Covid-19.

“We acted immediately that these tests were confirmed as positive.

"These are the first two we have had and we followed our procedures, drawn from the official guidance, spoke with Public Health England and implemented our track and trace protocols.

"Those who have been in close contact with the two positive cases are self-isolating as a precautionary measure and doing school work remotely from home.

"All other students have been able to continue to attend school as they were not identified as being in close proximity to the positive cases.

“Our robust safety measures include strict social bubbles and distancing measures, comprehensive contact tracking systems, staggered end to the school days, proactive use of face coverings across the school site and rigorous hygiene and cleaning procedures.”

Posting on Facebook, the school reassured parents that the teacher with the virus has not been on the school grounds since Tuesday, September 29.

After seeking guidance from the Department for Education and Public Health England, they say they were advised no further action was required for this case.

The confirmed pupil case came later and those identified to have been in contact with the child are now self-isolating until Friday, October 16.

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