A BRADFORD school has revealed a member of staff tested positive for coronavirus last month but it did not have to shut.

Bradford Academy, in Teasdale Street, outlined it followed all Public Health England (PHE) guidance by remaining open.

A member of support staff tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on Tuesday, May 12.

The Academy, which offers primary, secondary and post-16 education, informed the Department for Education (DfE) and Public Health England and followed all the appropriate procedures and guidelines.

Executive Principal, Tehmina Hashmi, said: "We spoke to parents, sharing advice and guidance, and the school underwent a thorough clean to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and pupils.

"The school was not required to close and remained open for the children of key workers and children identified as vulnerable.

"I can assure everyone that advice and guidance from Public Health was followed at all times."

The Government's guidance outlines that if a child, young person, or staff member tests positive, the whole school, or even year group, does not necessarily have to close.

It states: "Where settings are observing guidance on infection prevention and control, which will reduce risk of transmission, closure of the whole setting will not generally be necessary."

For example, schools employing a "bubble" system.

Those in the same class or group as the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

But, people who live with children or staff members who have been sent home (other than the individual who tested positive) do not need to self-isolate unless the child, young person or staff member they live with subsequently develops symptoms.