A grammar school insists it is "prepared for the worst" after revealing plans to launch "Google classrooms" should it be forced to close as a result of the coronavirus.

Simon Langton Boys in Canterbury has created online lessons for pupils to use at home ahead of a government meeting this afternoon about its response to the illness.

According to a letter sent to parents, which has been seen by KentOnline, feedback and advice will also be sent by staff to children over email and youngsters could be allowed to sit out lessons next week in order to complete coursework.

Head teacher Ken Moffat wrote: "Hopefully, these contingency measures will not be required but, if they are, we are prepared for the worst.

"We have had no advice as to the contingency planning undertaken by the examination boards and so, like you, we can only guess how the summer will pan out."

This comes amid reports that health secretary Matt Hancock is hoping to pass legislation next week to enable school closures and the cancellation of events.

Education chiefs from Kent County Council have also said they are “ramping up” contingency plans to deal with disruption to the exam timetable caused by Covid-19.

The crisis has led to speculation that GCSE and A-Level assessments may be delayed if the infection continues to spread.

A number of schools have confirmed that pupils and staff have been self-isolating - but Mr Moffat says there have been "no issues" at Simon Langton.

He added: "Now the government’s Cobra committee has met and discussed the possibility of closing the nation’s schools, we can all accept the idea as an increasingly real possibility.

"They may, simply, decide to bring the Easter break forward as part of the delay phase of dealing with the virus.

"We shall see what is decided in the coming days.

"Hopefully, these contingency measures will not be required but, if they are, we are prepared for the worst..."

"If the school is to close, it will not be my decision to close it, but me operating under instruction. Further, if the school is to close, it will close completely."

The prime minister will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee at lunchtime, and is expected to rubber-stamp a decision to move the government's response to Covid-19 from the "contain" phase of "delay".

The number of coronavirus patients in the UK rose by 87 to 460 on Wednesday, the biggest daily increase to date, and deaths in the UK now stand at eight.

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