A SCHOOL is shutting down until further notice following a suspected case of coronavirus.

Heyford Park Free School near Bicester will close tomorrow 'due to short staffing', a message on its website said.

The message added: "It is highly likely that a member of the office staff has Covid-19.

"At this we time we would like to reassure you we are taking all necessary measures to protect children and staff."

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Parents of pupils at the all-through school were asked to collect their children as soon as possible today, although buses still ran for those unable to be collected.

Pupils will be set work to complete at home from tomorrow onwards.

Almost 20 schools are shut today, due to staff shortages caused by self-isolation.

The government is currently not asking schools to close, even if there is a confirmed case of Covid-19.

However, the person with the virus should self-isolate for 14 days.

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Official guidance states: "In most cases, closure of the educational setting will not be needed but this will be a local decision based on various factors such as establishment size and risk of further spread.

"Public Health England will rarely advise a school to close but this may be necessary if there are so many staff being isolated that the school has operational issues."

Earlier this week, Aureus Primary School in Didcot confirmed that a pupil's parent had contracted the virus.

However, the school did not close and instead reassured parents of additional cleaning measures and precautions.