A Milton Keynes secondary school has seen 85 pupils and staff be given a positive coronavirus test result since the start of the Christmas holiday.
Ousedale School in Newport Pagnell and Olney shared the news in an update to all parents issued on New Year's Eve.
Acting Headteacher Stuart Glover told parents: "It is not an ideal situation and I apologise that students will not be starting school as per usual next week but unfortunately, there have been 85 positive cases since the start of the holiday, including 13 staff who tested positive so the extension to the ‘staggered return’ will hopefully help slow down the rate of infection in the community and in school."
The school has confirmed that it will be delaying re-opening in line with the national plans revealed last week.
Key worker and vulnerable children can only return with a negative COVID-19 test on Tuesday 5th January, following a staff training day on Monday.
Instead, online learning will take place for all other pupils.
Year 11 and 13 will then return following a negative COVID-19 test on Monday 11th January and other year groups returning on 18th January.
The school says further information on mass testing for pupils "will follow next week".
It comes as the government confirms that the first starter packs of up to 1,000 test kits will arrive at all secondary schools and colleges on 4th January.
Government officials say that two rapid tests will be made available to all secondary and college students and staff at the start of term to identify asymptomatic cases.
