Hastings secondary school closes as Covid-19 cases increase

Hastings Academy, in Rye Road, said the decision was made due to the number of staff currently self-isolating.

Earlier this week, the school confirmed five cases of Covid-19 and said students in direct contact with the confirmed cases had been sent home to self isolate for two weeks.

Members of staff were also required to self isolate.

The school will close to all students, except children of critical workers with immediate effect.

It will reopen on Wednesday, October 14.

On Wednesday evening (September 30), a spokesperson for the University of Brighton Academies Trust, which runs the school, said: “Following a discussion with Public Health England, and in consultation and agreement with the Local Authority, the Trust has decided to partially close The Hastings Academy to all pupils except for the children of critical workers and vulnerable pupils with immediate effect until Wednesday 14th October.

“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 learning to all our students.”