Coronavirus: More schools in Peterborough send pupils home

This morning Arthur Mellow Village College in Glinton - as well as Sir Harry Smith Community College in Whittlesey - revealed they were closing due to staff shortages.

Now, City of Peterborough Academy in Reeves Way has announced a partial closure.

The school has told parents: “It is with regret that we have to inform you that the academy will be closed for students in Year 8 and 9 from tomorrow (Wednesday). The academy will remain open for students in Year 7, 10 and 11.

“We would like to reassure you that this is solely due to staff shortages and we still have no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in school. We have prioritised the older examination students (Yr10 and 11) and students (Yr 7) who potentially would need more supervision at home to stay in school.

“Students in Year 8 and 9 will return to the academy on Monday, April 20. Online learning will be provided during this time on Teams, ClassCharts and GCSE Pod.

“If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the academy, and many thanks for your anticipated support.”

Several other schools have now confirmed they will be closed or fully closed tomorrow, including Stanground Academy, Hampton Gardens and City of Peterborough Academy.

Cambridgeshire County Council has also confirmed that Neale Wade Academy in March will be fully closed.

One place which is remaining open is Peterborough Regional College.

Rachel Nicholls, acting principal, said yesterday: “We continue to follow government advice very closely, in tandem with advice from Public Health England. While we have no known cases at PRC, any student or staff member who has a new and persistent cough or a fever has been advised that they should not attend college and should self-isolate for seven days.

“We are implementing a number of further actions as of today, Monday, which include encouraging contactless payments wherever possible across the college, use of disposable cups, enhanced cleaning regime, cancelling or postponing all overseas trips and identifying the best ways we can support those staff and students who are working remotely to ensure that they can continue learning and working online. We are also actively promoting the importance of hand washing.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 is an unprecedented event and one that is changing quickly. Senior staff are meeting frequently to monitor the situation and review our actions. We are well aware that there may be an instruction to close the college and as a result we are currently preparing for various scenarios, together with making preparations for the implications of any closure.”

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Coronavirus: Peterborough school to shut due to ‘unprecedented’ staff absences