The first secondary school in Birmingham has been forced to close due to an outbreak of swine flu.

Holte Visual & Performing Arts College, on Wheeler Street, Lozells, is closed to all pupils and staff, except exam candidates, and will reopen next Monday.

Health officials also closed James Watt Primary, in Handsworth, and Lozells Primary, Lozells, for a week, due to outbreaks, and Anglesey Primary School, in Anglesey Street, Lozells, closed on Friday as the virus spread further.

Last week, Birchfield Community School, Heathfield Primary School and St James School, in Handsworth, and Darul Uloom Islamic High School closed after more cases.

The Health Protection Agency said 34 new cases had been discovered yesterday in the West Midlands region, bringing the total to 388, the highest in England.

Yesterday, Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood urged the HPA to change treatment methods to halt the spread of swine flu in the city.

The Perry Barr MP said he had contacted the agency urging it to take action similar to that in Scotland.

He said: “At the moment a GP takes a swab and the result comes back 48 hours later and only when it is confirmed can they treat the swine flu.

“This is too long and I am asking the agency to suspend the rules, as has happened in Scotland, to allow them to treat suspected cases straight away rather than risk making the problem worse.”