Four Hampton pupils have been confirmed as having caught Swine Flu.

The school in Hanworth Road, did not open on Monday after a year seven pupil was diagnosed with flu and staff announced it would remain closed for a week.

Tests later confirmed the pupil did have the H1N1 virus, known as Swine Flu, and Pippa Message, acting headteacher at the 452-year-old school, revealed three other year seven boys had also fallen ill.

Ms Message explained the school was instructed to shut until next Monday by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and a message was put on the school’s website - she said the plan was still to “re-open and resume normal business” on that date.

In conjunction with the HPA the school has handed out antiviral treatment, Oseltamivir or Tamiflu, as a precaution to all first year students, staff who had significant direct contact with the boy while he was showing symptoms at school and children who shared the same school coach journeys with him, including some girls from neighbouring The Lady Eleanor Holles School (LEH).

LEH, which is next door to Hampton School, did not close its doors nor did Hampton Community College (HCC), which neighbours on the opposite side, or Denmead School, which links to Hampton and is based in Wensleydale Road.

Pupils sitting public examinations at the school have come in to take them but were told not to congregate in a group before or after the exams being taken and were advised to return home immediately after the exam ends.

One parent, who did not want to be named, said the school had asked parents to collect their children where possible but admitted she was not worried about the virus and a spokesman from HCC said it had not been affected and would carry on as normal until instructed.

Ms Message said: “I am grateful for the understanding and support of parents, the boys and staff - everyone has been brilliant.”

She said boys taking exams have remained in contact with staff via telephone and email and were very well prepared for them after two years of work, despite the upheaval.

“We were prepared for this,” she added. “We knew after what had been said in the press that closure was a possibility, particularly when we heard of other schools closing.

“We had plans in place and it was just a case of executing those plans.”

The four boys involved are believed to be being treated at home and pupils and staff who develop flu-like symptoms such as a temperature, headache, cough and sore throat are advised to call their GP or NHS Direct.

A concert due to feature the school's jazz band at Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare, the monument to the playwright on the riverside at Hampton, on Saturday, May 16, at 2pm has also been cancelled A spokesman from the organisers said it was hoped it could be rearranged.