More than 25 schools in Wigan borough have confirmed cases of Covid-19

Cases have been confirmed at 14 primary schools, 11 high schools, a special school and three colleges in the seven-day period covered by the town halls's statistics.

Year groups or bubbles have been told to self-isolate for 14 days following the confirmation of positive Covid-19 test results.

The worst affected schools in the borough are Hawkley Hall High School, St John Fisher Catholic High School, Astley St Mary's Catholic High School and 12 Apostles Primary School in Westleigh.

All four have confirmed cases in three year groups within the last week.

Two of the primary schools have cases confirmed among the staff.

Schools currently report all confirmed cases of Covid-19 either directly to the Department for Education or to the Greater Manchester Integrated Contact Tracing Hub which is led by Wigan Council director of public health Prof Kate Ardern.

Advice is then given on tracing close contacts of those confirmed cases, further infection control measures and sending bubbles or year groups home.

The full list of schools with confirmed cases in latest week, with the year groups affected in brackets afterwards, is: 12 Apostles, Westleigh (3, 4, 5); Bedford High School (10); Abram Bryn Gates (3); Atherton Community School (10); Canon Sharples (1, 2); Byrchall High School (11); Ince in Makerfield C of E (4); Cansfield High School (9, 11); Lowton St Mary's (4); Dean Trust (9); Mabs Cross Community Primary (3); Deanery High School (9); Meadowbank Primary School (1, 2); Golborne High School (7, 9); Sacred Heart, Beech Hill (Staff); Hawkley Hall High School (7, 8, 11); St Catherine's (6); St Edmund Arrowsmith (10, 11); St John's Primary (Staff); St John Fisher (8, 9, 10); St Luke's Lowton (2); St Mary's Catholic High (8, 12, 13); St Mary's Primary (4); St Stephens Primary (5); St Thomas's Primary (4); St John Rigby College; Wigan & Leigh College; Winstanley College; Oakfield High School and College.

One nursery, Kids' Planet in Billinge, also appeared on the list but the nursery has since contacted wigantoday to say that it has no cases, and that there has perhaps been a mix-up with its sister branch in Worsley where there has been a case.

Schools are also requested to notify the local authority of confirmed cases in order to support local intelligence and monitoring of the virus.

The data covers the period between September 16 and September 23.