Eastbourne school closes to some year groups due to Covid-19

Although there have been no additional cases of Covid-19 at St Catherine’s College in the last few days, increased numbers of staff having to self-isolate as a precautionary measure means the Priory Road school has had to reduce the number of students it can safely accommodate.

In a letter home to parents yesterday (Tuesday), officials said that for the last three days of term from today (Wednesday) until Friday, the school will remain open as usual for Year 7 and 11 students only.

Students in Years 8 and 10 will be required to work from home from today (Wednesday) when 100 per cent online lessons will be held.

The school said it had been an “agonising and difficult decision”.

The letter said, “We are determined that no child will be disadvantaged by this situation. Please can you also support and help your child by providing a place for them to work. Where possible and safe to do so, we would also encourage getting some form of exercise, preferably outside in the fresh air.

“Again, we appreciate that this is such a difficult and worrying time. We feel that we need to apologise again for the huge implications this will have for families. As always, we want to assure you that this decision was not taken lightly, and it was taken with the welfare of the students, families and

our local community in mind.

“Again, we feel it is important to stress that none of us will be reducing our commitment to teaching and supporting our students remotely; we care deeply about them and will endeavour to do all we can so that they do not suffer from this partial closure.

“We look forward to seeing all students back in school on Tuesday January 5 2021.”