A BOURNEMOUTH school is hoping to return to normal today after a suspected outbreak of the highly contagious norovirus.

Bournemouth Collegiate School in Southbourne informed the Health Protection Agency (HPA) after scores of pupils and staff fell victim to a sickness bug. Around 70 pupils were said to be affected on Monday and it’s believed the numbers increased in the following days.

Last night Stephen Duckitt, principal of the school, said parents are being kept fully informed and the situation had now ‘totally calmed in boarding and amongst day pupils’.

Dr Geoffrey Thould, consultant for the SW (South) Health Protection Unit, said: “We are working alongside partner agencies to investigate the illness and look for common links.

“We know that norovirus, the winter diarrhoea and vomiting bug, is circulating at this time of the year and we think that the students are most likely to be suffering from norovirus.

“Fortunately, although unpleasant, this is a shortlived illness that most people recover from fully within a few days.

“To help prevent further spread we would remind parents about the need to keep children with illness away from school until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.

“The school has heightened its cleaning measures and is reinforcing good infection control measures such as washing hands.”

Stephen Duckitt, the principal of Bournemouth Collegiate, said: “The school takes its responsibility for the welfare of all students and staff very seriously and is cooperating fully with all the advice and guidance given so far.

“The situation has now totally calmed in boarding and amongst day pupils.”

Several other schools have also reported unusually high sickness levels recently, although this is mainly due to pupils displaying flu-like symptoms.

Lytchett Matravers Primary School, Ad Astra First School and Lilliput First School have all been affected by some sickness bugs.