HUNDREDS of pupils across schools in Wiltshire are now self-isolating at home after classmates tested positive for coronavirus - with school after school being forced to take action.

All schools said they were taking precautionary measures, and being extra-cautious in a bid to protect staff and students.

The Springfields Academy near Calne asked children to stay at home after one of the pupils at the school tested positive for COVID-19. The pupil is in a group bubble of children from Years 6-8 and is self-isolating along with the other 11 pupils in the bubble for 14 days, until September 28.

Kingsbury Green Academy in Calne has had to ask the sixth form to stay home after a pupil received a positive COVID-19 test result.

“We have followed the COVID-19 Early Outbreak Management document and liaised with Public Health England and Public Health Wiltshire, who have directed all subsequent actions to manage the situation,” said head teacher Jason Tudor.

Also in Calne, all Year Three children at St Margaret’s Preparatory School have also gone into self-isolation for 14 days after a pupil tested positive for coronavirus.

While that sent 27 pupils and three staff members home, the school also decided to ask Year Six children and staff to work from home until a pupil in that bubble gets the result of a cornavirus test.

Headteacher Luke Bromwich said, “I wrote to parents and carers of our Year 3 students asking the pupils to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution.

“Those who are being asked to self-isolate will carry out home learning so they can continue their studies.”

Another 284 pupils at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy have gone into self-isolation for 14 days after one pupil tested positive.

They are in Year Nine, meaning all other pupils in Year Nine have also gone into quarantine.

RWBA headteacher Anita Ellis said: “We have written to all parents and carers to explain the situation, and we really appreciate their understanding and support as we know this will cause some unfortunate disruption for the Year 9 pupils and their families.”

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust has made it a trust-wide policy that from Wednesday, it will be compulsory for students and staff at all its schools to wear face coverings in corridors and indoor communal areas.

That affects Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Kingsbury Green Academy in Calne, Lawn Manor Academy in Swindon, Noremarsh Junior School in Royal Wootton Bassett, The Wellington Academy and Wellington Primary and Wellington Eagles in Ludgershall.

Year 4s from Trinity CE Primary Academy in Devizes are also self-isolating after one of the pupils at the school tested positive.

The primary school is following advice from public health professionals in asking all 28 pupils in the year group to self-isolate until September 23.

The Year 9 bubble from St Augustine’s Catholic College in Trowbridge and some staff are also still self-isolating, a move brought in last week.