THE school “bubble” system is being dropped and only those who test positive for Covid will have to self-isolate, the Government has announced.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told MPs schoolchildren will no longer need to self-isolate if they are in close contact of someone who tests positive for Covid from August 16.

His comments came after coronavirus-linked pupil absence in schools hit a record high since classes fully returned in March.

According to the latest data available, Essex pupils missed more than 870,000 days of face-to-face teaching in the autumn term after having to self-isolate or shield due to Covid.

Schools reopened to all year groups from September, with students sent home in bubbles to self-isolate when coronavirus cases were detected.

That was an absence rate of 6.9 per cent, and equivalent to roughly five days per pupil.

Current rules state that children have to self-isolate for ten days if another pupil in their bubble - which can be an entire year group at secondary school - tests positive for coronavirus.

In addition to ending bubbles, Mr Williamson said it will “not be necessary to stagger start and finish times” at schools.

He told the Commons: “We recognise the system of bubbles and isolation is causing disruption to many children’s education.

“That is why we’ll be ending bubbles and transferring contact tracing to the NHS Test and Trace system for early years settings, schools and colleges.”

Mr Williamson added: “I do not think it is acceptable that children should face greater restrictions over and above those of wider society, especially since they have given up so much to keep older generations safe during this pandemic.”

Steven Turnbull, head of Hazelmere Infant School, in Colchester, said he hopes the Government is not rushing into these decisions.

He added: “It is welcome that the Government has been relatively clear about what they expect to happen next which is something that has not always been the case during the pandemic.

“Whilst the disruption caused by bubbles isolating is hugely detrimental to children’s education and disruptive to family life, the sudden and immediate change comes at a time when cases are rising rapidly in the area which could give a confusing message to staff and families.

“I sincerely hope the Government’s apparent rush to remove all restrictions doesn’t turn out to be over optimistic and we face another serious situation later in the year.”

NHS England’s latest figures reveal 12,379 Colchester residents have tested positive for Covid since the start of the pandemic.

In the latest seven day period 342 residents have tested positive for the virus at a rate of 175.6 per 100,000 people.

More than half of Colchester’s population has now been fully vaccinated to date.