Eton College CLOSES due to outbreak of coronavirus at the prestigious private school 

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Eton College CLOSES due to outbreak of coronavirus with boys sent home from the prestigious private school as soon as possible and lessons moving online until after Christmas

  • £42,500-a-year school’s headmaster Simon Henderson wrote a letter to parents 
  • Said ‘a large number of symptomatic boys and staff tested positive’ for the virus 
  • Mr Henderson said there was ‘real danger’ the number could spiral out of control
  • He did not specify how many pupils tested positive at the boarding school 

By Jemma Carr For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Eton College has temporarily closed due to a coronavirus outbreak among students and teachers.

The £42,500-a-year school’s headmaster Simon Henderson wrote a letter to parents saying ‘a large number of symptomatic boys and staff tested positive’ for the virus.

Mr Henderson said there is a ‘real danger’ the number could spiral out of control this weekend if action isn’t taken in a letter seen by MailOnline. 

He did not specify how many pupils tested positive at the boarding school – which houses boys between the ages of 13 and 18.

Students will continue to learn remotely until the end of term. 

The shock closure of the school comes in the midst of a row over free speech which saw teacher Will Knowland sacked for challenging so-called modern feminist views about ‘toxic masculinity’ in an online lecture.

Eton College has temporarily closed due to a coronavirus outbreak among students and teachers (file image)

The £42,500-a-year school's headmaster Simon Henderson wrote a letter (pictured) to parents saying 'a large number of symptomatic boys and staff tested positive' for the virus

The £42,500-a-year school’s headmaster Simon Henderson wrote a letter (pictured) to parents saying ‘a large number of symptomatic boys and staff tested positive’ for the virus

Mr Henderson said there is a 'real danger' the number could spiral out of control this weekend if action isn't taken in a letter seen by MailOnline. Pictured: A file image of Eton students and staff, taken before the pandemic

Mr Henderson said there is a ‘real danger’ the number could spiral out of control this weekend if action isn’t taken in a letter seen by MailOnline. Pictured: A file image of Eton students and staff, taken before the pandemic

Mr Henderson (pictured) did not specify how many pupils tested positive at the boarding school - which houses boys between the ages of 13 and 18

Mr Henderson (pictured) did not specify how many pupils tested positive at the boarding school – which houses boys between the ages of 13 and 18

The letter sent today read: ‘Having been largely Covid free since Long Leave, a number of symptomatic boys and staff have tested positive in the past few days. We are awaiting results on several others, with more scheduled to be tested.

‘We also now have a significant number of boys and staff self-isolating as close contacts.’

He said it was clear there is ‘Covid within the school’.

He added: ‘Having taken medical advice, we believe there is a real danger that the number of cases could increase significantly over the weekend and into next week unless we take action.

‘The health and well being of the school community is my top priority.’

Students will be encouraged to head home before the weekend.

Pupils who are unable to get home at such short notice will be able to stay in the school this weekend and into next week ‘if necessary’, the letter read.