Two year groups in the same number of Maidstone schools are self-isolating after positive coronavirus tests.

The Maplesden Noakes School have sent Year 8s home after a member of staff and a student tested positive.

They will return to the site on Friday, October 23.

Parents were alerted that an employee had caught the virus on Sunday, and then informed a Year 8 pupil had also tested positive today.

There is no evidence the two cases are linked.

Headteacher Richard Owen said: "We have worked closely with the Department For Education and Public Health England to ensure that we follow the correct advice. We are making sure that we keep everyone safe and the absolute best course of action in this case was to keep the Year 8 bubble at home for the correct isolation period.

"From March to July, in the lockdown period, our staff worked hard to maintain our virtual school online.

"Students followed all of their timetabled lessons with teachers on Microsoft Teams. This was a fantastic success and so with the current situation, we have been able to switch very quickly to our remote learning procedure for Year 8 and students are continuing to attend virtual lessons with their teachers online.

"We continue to minimise the risk and are doing everything we can to keep everyone in our school community safe as well as maintaining the high standards of education and pastoral care we are known for.

"I would like to extend my gratitude to our parents, students, staff and governors who are all so supportive as we work together through these extraordinary times."

Meanwhile, the entire Year 11 group at Maidstone Grammar School are self-isolating after a positive test in the cohort.

In a letter to parents today, parents were told that the pupils will return on Wednesday, October 1.

Last month, a "small number" of pupils were told to self-isolate at the grammar school, after a confirmed case of the virus.

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