St Leonards secondary school closed to all year groups, except year 11

St Leonards Academy, in Edinburgh Road, St Leonards, wrote to parents today (Monday, November 30) telling them that students in years 7 and 8 must stay at home with immediate effect.

The school had already closed to years 9 and 10 after a number of Covid-19 cases were reported. Parents were informed of that closure on Sunday (November 29).

The school will remain closed, except for students in year 11, until Monday, December 14.

A spokesperson for the University of Brighton Academies Trust, which runs the academy, said: “Following a discussion with Public Health England, the Trust has decided to partially close The St Leonards Academy to all year groups except for Year 11 students, children of critical workers, and vulnerable students with immediate effect until Monday 14th December.

“We want to assure our school community that the decision to partially close was not taken lightly but is necessary based on the number of staff we currently have self-isolating.

“Our students’ health and education remain our top priority, so during this partial closure, the academy will continue to provide wellbeing support and remote online learning to all students affected until they return to the academy in two weeks.”

St Leonards Academy is the latest school in the area to close to at least some of its students following a Covid-19 outbreak.

Bexhill Academy was closed on November 19 and November 20 to all students and is currently employing a staggered reopening to bring all students back.

Ark Alexandra sent all students in year 7 and 8 home to isolate and closed its Helenswood campus for a deep clean. Year 8 students return today (Monday, November 30), while year 7 return on Wednesday (December 2).

Hastings Academy was closed for two weeks at the end of September following an outbreak of cases, but has since reopened.