Queens' School has confirmed 23 pupils have now tested positive for swine flu.

The school has been closed since Tuesday morning, following news a Year 9 student had been found to have the H1N1 bug.

Dozens more pupils have since come down with flu-like symptoms and have been tested at GP surgeries over the past 48 hours.

Terry James, headteacher at the Aldenham Road school, said a total of 23 cases of the virus have now been confirmed within the school - including a Year 11 and 13 student.

However, the actual number of pupils with swine flu could be much higher, after doctors confirmed they are no longer testing anybody linked to Queens' School for the virus.

Health experts have said if Queens' students or close family members have obvious flu symptoms they should instead contact a doctor by phone.

The GP will then fax a voucher to a chemist for a non-infected family member or friend to collect a five day day course of Tamiflu.

Queens' has also had to cancel a Year 11 leaver's ball and a Year 13 boat party planned for next week.

Mr James said the decision was made after a student in each year was confirmed with the bug. A Year 7 entrants evening, scheduled for tonight, has also been postponed until next Wednesday.

However, senior staff at the school still hope to welcome pupils back to class next Tuesday morning.

Mr James said: “At the moment they are saying there is no change to the reopening.

“We are working on the basis that we will still be able to reopen next Tuesday.”

He added: “It is predictable, there were always going to be more cases but at the moment it doesn't change plans to reopen the school.”

He said a skeleton staff were in school today to answer queries and that parents would be kept up-to-date via text messaging and the school's website.