RINGWOOD School has confirmed another positive case of Covid-19 within its "school community".

Students identified as "close contacts" have been sent home to self-isolate.

The school says it remains open and operating as normal to all other students.

A statement from the school said: "We can confirm that Ringwood School have been informed of a further positive case of Covid-19 within the school community.

"A single bubble and very small number of staff within the school have been affected. The school have been in close contact with the Department for Education and Public Health England, and those students identified as ‘close-contacts’ have been provided with remote learning and sent home to self-isolate."

Last month Ringwood School reported that two members of the school community had tested positive for the coronavirus.

A letter to parents said: "We have been made aware of a member of our school community who has tested positive for Covid-19. We know that you may find this concerning, but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child.

"Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (Covid-19) will be a mild illness. A number of children who have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have received a letter informing them that their child must stay at home for 14 days.

There appears to be a suggestion on social media that a tightly controlled assembly we held for the year group earlier this week to remind them all of Covid-19 safe practices in school was the reason that students must isolate. I would like to reassure you that this is not the case. In liaison with Public Health England, and as with all learning activities, we look carefully at seating plans to track who has been near a positive case.

"We use CCTV to identify contacts out of lesson time. For learning activities, students sat within 2m for 15 minutes of a positive case are defined as close contacts and are asked to isolate. This happens for each of the 12 lessons and any other activities in the 48hr period before symptoms appear for any positive cases.

"The school remains open and, unless asked to isolate, your child should continue to attend as normal if they remain well."