A secondary school will be partially shut from tomorrow after a staff member tested positive for Covid.

Close contacts of the staff member at the Sweyne Park School have been told not to return to school after the Christmas break. 

The school has also had to ask a significant number of other members of staff to self-isolate from today and, as a result of staffing shortage, the school will operate on a rota system from tomorrow, December 10.

Years nine and 11 will be asked to work from home on December 10 and years seven and eight will work from home on December 11. An updated rota for next week is yet to be released.

The school will remain fully open for vulnerable pupils and children of keyworkers.

In an initial letter to parents, Headteacher Katherine Dines said: “We have this morning been notified that a member of staff has tested positive for COVID-19.

"Having evaluated the situation, and in accordance with advice from Public Health England we have identified all “close contacts” of the pupil in question who will self-isolate until 17th December. Given the Christmas period, they will return to school on 4th January 2021.”

In a follow up later, she added: “Further to my email earlier this morning notifying you of a member of staff who has tested positive for COVID-19, I wanted to update you on the current position.

"Unfortunately, in identifying “close contacts” of the affected member of staff, we have had to ask a significant number of other staff members to self-isolate from today.

"In such circumstances of staffing shortage, we must consider the safe operation of our school, and consult with the Local Authority/Department for Education for advice and guidance.

"We have now done this, and I am writing to inform you that from tomorrow, Thursday 10th December, we will need to operate on a rota system where certain year groups work from home.

"Whilst I would like to provide you with a definitive rota until the end of term, the landscape is changing very quickly, and we are unable to plan too far ahead at this time. However, for the rest of this week, the following year groups will be asked to stay and work from home:

Thursday 10th December: Years 9 and 11 (unless in the Art exam)

Friday 11th December: Years 7 and 8

"Whilst we regret having to implement this rota, I do feel fortunate indeed that we have made it this far into the term without staff absence impacting the running of the school.

"We will, however, need to continue to keep the situation under review and whilst I very much hope not to have to ask more than 2 year groups at any one time to work at home, the operational safety of our school will drive this decision.

"Please, therefore, do keep a close eye on your emails for further updates and details of the plans for next week.”