Schools do not have to tell parents if a child's classmate tests positive for Covid it has emerged, prompting a leading Hitchin politician to label the decision as 'absolutely scandalous'.

Since the start of the school term, many parents have assumed that should there be a confirmed case of Covid within their child's class or 'bubble', that they would know.

For many that's based on the assumption that the entire 'bubble' would be sent home to self-isolate.

But in reality – subject to the the advice of local public health teams – only 'close contacts' of that pupil may be told to self-isolate.

The worrying secrecy and lack of clarity and transparency has left many unimpressed.

Hitchin councillor Billing, who is also leader of the county council's Labour group, has slammed the approach to communication.

She said: "If this is the case, then its absolutely scandalous that people aren't being told – because nobody lives in isolation.

"Children may live with parents with medical conditions, they have grandparents.

"Of course we have the right to know – that's the whole point of 'track and trace'. It cannot be right to withhold this information."

Commenting on the approach, a spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to who should self-isolate if there is a case in a school.

The county said that schools will need to speak to the local public health team to determine who counts as a close contact in any specific case, and this will be different for different schools and different situations.

The spokesman explained: "Similarly on communication, there is no simple answer. Who is directly affected will depend on the specific circumstances of the case and there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.

"The important point is that anyone who needs to take action (such as self-isolating or getting tested) is told to do so.

"Every school and every case is different, and schools will need to make these decisions on a case-by-case basis, in discussion with the local public health team."