A secondary school in Dartford has confirmed its first Covid-19 case just days after welcoming back pupils – and a week after the Education Secretary toured new testing facilities.

Wilmington Academy in Common Lane informed parents earlier this week a student in year 8 had tested positive and is now self-isolating at home.

The case was detected via the lateral flow testing process, a national programme requiring all secondary school students to be tested three times as they return.

It comes just a week after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was invited to tour the facilities and speak with staff and pupils about their return.

The school says it has taken steps to act quickly and reduce the risk of cross transmission.

In line with Public Health England guidance, 26 year 8 pupils that may have been in contact with the infected student are being asked to self isolate for at least 10 days.

A deep clean is being carried out in all the affected classrooms and communal areas to minimise any risk.

The school went on to explain the fact the child, who was asymptomatic, was identified was evidence its "robust testing process" was working well.

If they had not been identified "so rapidly" it added they could have easily passed on the infection to others within their "bubble".

Public Health has advised with these measures the school can continue to operate as normal in line with Covid secure guidelines.

A statement from the Leigh Academies Trust, which also runs Longfield and The Leigh Academy, said: "We can confirm that a Year 8 student at Wilmington Academy has tested positive for Covid-19 via an in-school lateral flow test and is now self-isolating at home.

"Working in line with the guidance from Public Health England we have undertaken a risk assessment of the situation and concluded that a further 26 Year 8 students should self-isolate for 10 days as a precaution and to reduce the risk of cross-transmission further into their year group bubble.

"Staff and parents of year 8 students have been informed of the case and we will continue to update them if any other cases are identified."

Children returned to school on Monday as part of the first stage in the government's roadmap for easing lockdown.

The latest case comes just a week after a visit by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on March 4.

During the visit Mr Williamson was shown the preparations the school was making for students’ return to classrooms and was given a tour of the academy and, in particular, its Covid testing facilities.

The government minister also had an opportunity to meet, socially distanced, with a number of staff and students to hear their thoughts on returning to school.

Speaking at Wilmington Academy, Mr Williamson said: “It’s wonderful to be here at Wilmington Academy in Dartford, to see the work that has been undertaken to get the testing regime set up ready to welcome all the children back from next week and to talk to some of the children, seeing their enthusiasm and seeing how keen they are to see their friends back at school.

"Wilmington Academy is such a friendly, happy school that’s ready to give all the children the great opportunity to start learning in the classroom once more”.

Following the Secretary of State's visit Wilmington Academy Principal Michael Gore said: "It was a pleasure to host Mr Williamson today to showcase all of the tireless work that staff have undertaken to support students with their remote learning and on-site provision during this challenging time.

"It was pleasing to show Mr Williamson the efforts put into ensuring a robust and efficient testing regime at the academy operated by staff volunteers alongside trained health care assistants from Newcross Healthcare.

He added: "Mr Williamson was hugely impressed with his visit and this is a tribute to both staff and students at the academy.”

It's not the first time staff and pupils have been asked to self-isolate at the academy.

More than 200 were told to stay home in November following a confirmed case and six teachers were told to isolate as a precaution following a separate case in September.

Education unions had called for a staggered approach to the return of schools and warned of future disruption if all pupils were brought back en masse.

However, Mr Williamson declared that the reopening of schools on Monday would be the “beginning of the road back to normality”.

He added that after a long time away from the classroom, secondary school pupils will be able to “hit the ground running” courtesy of safety measures in place for their return.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford