A SCHOOL has come under fire after pictures surfaced showing dozens of students crammed together in a corridor.

Parents raised concerns after the picture circulated on social media on Tuesday, which shows students squeezed into a hallway at King Edmund School in Rochford.

It comes just days after the school confirmed a Year 13 pupil had tested positive for Covid-19.

Headteacher Jonathan Osborn insisted the issue was down to a high volume of students being inside due to the weather, as well as criticising parents who shared the image online.

One parent, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s like this every day. They are getting pushed about and pushed in to each other. My eldest is terrified to be in school because she’s scared of catching Covid.

“They had a positive case in Year 13, and I completely appreciate they are in a different block but the school had sent a letter around social distancing and what they define as close contact - however, if the kids are going down the hallways like that, that is close contact.

“It’s putting the whole school at risk.”

Mr Osborn said: “This school, like many others, has put in place a one-way system and expects students and staff to wear a mask or a visor as they make their way around school.

“The photo was taken at the end of a break time when students were re-entering the school building and shows students moving in the same direction and wearing masks as required. There was a higher volume of students at that point in the day due to the weather.

“We will be reviewing our processes for when students re-enter the building as we would whenever a concern is raised with us.”