TWO hundred and fifty students across four schools in Wimborne are isolating after confirmed Covid cases.

Pupils in Year 6 and Year 8 from Wimborne middle schools St Michael's, Allenbourn and Emmanuel are isolating after 'a small number' of positive Covid cases.

There are 53 students isolating from St Michael's, 68 student isolating from Allenbourn and 29 students isolating from Emmanuel.

The schools are all managed by the Wimborne Academy Trust which also manages Queen Elizabeth's School which has 100 students isolating after five confirmed coronavirus cases.

Liz West, chief executive of the Wimborne Academy Trust, said: "We can confirm that positive Covid results have been recorded at four of our schools.

"Queen Elizabeth School has around 100 students isolating after five positive results in Years 9 and 10.

"And our middle schools St Michael’s, Allenbourn and Emmanuel have students isolating in Years 8 and 6 after a small number of positive tests.

"Our protocols are now well practised and everything worked as it should have done.

"The students have acted responsibly throughout and for those isolating their learning will continue from home."

Sam Crowe, director of public health for Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole councils said: "We are aware that a number of schools in Dorset have received confirmed cases of Covid-19. These schools are working closely with Public Health Dorset, Dorset Council and Public Health England South West to ensure that all necessary measures are being met.

"All close contacts of the confirmed cases have been notified and need to self-isolate for 10 days. Contacts of the confirmed cases should get a PCR test. Even if people test negative, they must still self-isolate for 10 days."