MORE than two dozen pupils were sent home to self-isolate after a child tested positive for coronavirus on the first day of school.

Unity College in Burnley confirmed a Year 7 pupil contracted the virus yesterday afternoon (September 2).

It was the first day many children were returning to the classroom after a six-month absence.

In a statement on the school's website, Headteacher Mrs Sally-Jane Cryer said: "At the start of the afternoon of Wednesday 2 September 2020, I was contacted by a parent of a child in year 7 to inform me that the year 7 child has tested positive for Covid-19.

"The boy and his family have been part of the governments track and trace pilot and are tested weekly. The parents do not have the virus but the year 7 child does have it.

"The boy has had no symptoms at all.

"The college took immediate action and isolated the boy and his family collected him immediately.

"The parents of all the other students in the child’s bubble, 25 year 7 students in total have been contacted and all 25 have been sent home this afternoon and told to self-isolate for 14 days.

"The rooms where the class have been taught were deep cleaned immediately.

"No other student bubbles in any year group including year 7 have been affected."