Newport year group learning from home due to staff shortage

In a letter dated Monday, October 18, posted on social media, the school said year nine pupils would be remote learning due to "significant staff shortages".

The staff shortages have been caused by coronavirus.

• Have you recently lost a loved one? We want to help you celebrate their life by publishing an obituary in the paper and online. Click here to submit information and pictures.

Headteacher Tracey Jarvis said: "We have significant staff shortages at the school currently with a number of staff off school for an extended period of time having tested positive for Covid or absent because of Covid-related issues.

"As a result, we have had to engage a range of strategies in order to try to cover all classes, including reverting to independent study for sixth form and combining classes, but the situation continues to worsen and is increasingly challenging.

"Consequently, I have had to take the decision to revert to remote learning for year nine tomorrow (October 19) and the next day (October 20)."

Ms Jarvis said that year nine were selected for remote learning because they are old enough to not be childcare burden on parents and are not involved in exam preparations.

Staffing levels at the school will be assessed on Wednesday to determine if pupils can come back to school on Thursday and Friday.

An announcement is expected on this on Wednesday.

The school has been affected by a spike in Covid cases before, with there being outbreaks in autumn 2020 and in spring this year.

READ MORE:

• Newport's first woman bus driver dies 
• Newport man poured petrol over woman and threatened to set her on fire 
• John Lewis in Cardiff to host Trigwell Cosmestics pop-up