A Shirehampton school has sent a year group home because of staff shortages due to coronavirus.
Oasis Academy Brightstowe, an 811-pupil secondary on Penpole Lane, has written to parents to confirm student and staff cases.
Principal Alan Dane told parents yesterday (November 17): "We had 14 teachers isolating.
"As a result, I decided to have the rest of Year 9 learn from home up to and including November 27.
"Should more teachers need to isolate and should this make it impossible to staff the academy safely, I will identify further year groups for home learning."
He revealed a Year 9 pupil had tested positive, meaning some close contacts must self-isolate until November 28.
There was also a positive test in Year 8, with "a number of students" having to stay home until November 27.
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In a text from the school today, parents were told: "Some Year 10 students are going home today owing to a positive Covid case in Year 10."
The school has been approached for more information.
You should book a Covid-19 test if your child has at least one of the following:
- A high temperature - This means if they feel hot to touch on the chest or back. You do not need to measure their temperature.
- A new continuous cough - This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If your child usually has a cough, it may be worse than usual).
- A loss or change to their sense of smell or taste - They've noticed they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
If your child does not have symptoms of coronavirus but has other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, they do not need to be tested, and they or members of your household do not need to self-isolate.
Your child can attend school if fit to do so.
