Sheffield students sent home from school to learn remotely due to Covid-19 staffing shortages

Pupils in the two year groups at Birley Academy on Birley Lane will be taught online from today (Thursday, November 19) to December 1, headteacher Gina Newton said in a letter to parents yesterday, (Wednesday, November 18).

Students are being sent home to learn remotely due to a number of staff that have been forced to self-isolate after they came into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

This period of time where pupils will be made to study virtually using online platforms and emailing school work to teachers, includes two scheduled teacher training days where students would be off school anyway.

Headteacher Gina Newton wrote: “As you may know we now have a number of staff who are having to self-isolate for a period of time because they have been in contact with someone who had tested positive for covid.

"As always, we constantly monitor our staffing situation to ensure that we deliver the best education that we can in secure and safe environment.

"Unfortunately the number of staff having to self-isolate means that the teams providing pastoral care, duties, safeguarding and site services have been particularly hit.

"The staff are not out because they have tested as positive cases but rather because they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

"The result of this is that I am left with no alternative but to close the bubbles for Y8 and Y9 for six days.

"This means that your child in Y8 or Y9 will access their education remotely from 19 November until their return on Tuesday 1 December.

"This includes the two already scheduled INSET days on Friday 27 November and Monday 30 November.

"On and between these dates your child will access the remote curriculum through Sharepoint.

"They will submit work by email to their teachers and they can also ask teachers for help by email.”

The Birley Academy have been contacted for comment.

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