Sorry, this video asset has been removed.

Video: Ian Johnson,
principal of the Marlowe Academy, spoke to the KM Group about his
decision to close the school, after pupils and a teacher came into
contact with an infected University of Kent student

by Martin Jefferies

Bosses at the first school in Kent to close because of swine flu
say that reopening next week is "absolutely the right thing to
do".

The Marlowe Academy in Ramsgate was closed as a precaution on
Friday after a female teacher at the school contracted the A/H1N1
virus.

Two students were also tested after developing flu-like
symptoms, although neither has been confirmed as having the
disease.

Principal Ian Johnson made the decision to reopen the academy,
following decisions with health officials this afternoon.

In a statement, he said: "It will be business as usual again at
the academy on Monday morning and I'm satisfied that reopening is
absolutely the right thing to do.

"In London and Birmingham, the illness is now fairly well
established and school closures are deemed pointless.

"With the recent outbreak in Canterbury, it seems only a matter
of time before there are more cases in our area and the emphasis
switches from containment and testing to a focus on treating those
with the disease."

It is believed that swine flu was spread to the Marlowe Academy
following a visit by a group of University of Kent students last
week, one of whom has since contracted the virus.

The affected teacher and pupils who came into contact with the
students have been at home since at least last weekend, when the
University of Kent confirmed an outbreak at its Canterbury
campus.

Mr Johnson added: "As luck would have it, the teacher wasn't in
school last Friday either. She only began to feel ill over the
weekend and it seems highly unlikely that she has passed on the
infection to other colleagues or students."

Canterbury Christ Church University confirmed on a Friday
that a student at its Broadstairs campus has contracted swine
flu.

The part-time mature female student, who does not live in
university accommodation, is only the second person to test
positive for the virus in Thanet.

The university remained open on Friday, although staff said they
would be monitoring the situation closely.

A spokesman said: "We have not determined a need for any
particular precautions to be implemented, although we recommend
staff and students follow the general advice being circulated by
national health agencies."