A secondary school in one of the Kent boroughs hit hardest by coronavirus has reported two positive cases.

Fulston Manor School in Sittingbourne has contacted parents today after a member of staff and a Year 11 pupil were found to have the virus.

Head teacher Susie Burden wrote: "We have been made aware of two members of our school community who have tested positive for Covid-19.

"This includes one member of staff and a member of the Year 11 bubble.

"We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England."

Sittingbourne's schools have been particularly badly impacted by coronavirus, with hundreds of children being told to stay at home since they returned to the classrooms in September.

The town is home to the headquarters of Swale council, which also presides over Sheppey and Faversham, and the borough has seen one of the highest infection rates in the county.

As of 4pm today, there had been 1,775 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Swale - the third most in Kent behind Thanet and Ashford.

Its rate of 1,182 people with the virus per 100,000 was the fourth highest in the county. Only Dartford, Ashford and Thanet had higher rates.

Fulston Manor is thought to be the last of the town's secondary schools not to have had to send children home, until now.

Those affected by the positive tests in Year 11 have been ordered to remain at home for 14 days.

In September, the school reported that a pupil had tested positive but was yet to return to class after the summer, so no further action was required.

Fulston's executive head, Alan Brookes, who is also the chairman of the Kent Association of Headteachers, warned earlier this year that testing had to improve as the growing "big pressure" faced by schools was linked with teachers needing to self-isolate.

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