A 'HIGH proportion' of Year 13 students at a Hexham school are isolating at home.

Queen Elizabeth High School has seen an outbreak of cases among sixth form students returning from the half-term break.

Having taken advice from Public Health England, the school has now moved the year group's lessons online for the next ten days as a 'circuit breaker'.

The year groups remaining in school will also be required to wear face coverings in communal areas for, at least, the next ten days.

"We are clearly all disappointed that our sixth form students will be required to access their learning from home over the next ten days", said executive headteacher Graeme Atkins. "However, having sought advice from Public Health England, this is clearly the sensible action to take to stem further transmission in our community.

"I’m grateful to our teaching staff who will now deliver live, online lessons to the students during this period."