A school will remain closed for the first two days of next term because of predicted traffic problems caused by Brexit.

Pupils at Maidstone Grammar School will not return to the school site on January 4 and 5 but will instead learn from home.

In a video to parents, head teacher Mark Tomkins said queues on the M20 to the port of Dover caused by the changing regulations and rules for businesses brought on by Brexit from January 1, could see teachers late for work and pupils having to be sent home.

Mr Tomkins said: "We just don't know what's going to happen but it's vital we are prepared for all possibly eventualities.

"I know asking students to stay at home these first two days of term following all that we have experienced since September isn't ideal and it's something we have had to consider very carefully.

"But in order for us to understand the impact of the UK leaving the EU we need to give ourselves a small window of time, these two days, to prepare for possible longer periods of disruption if that is required."

Explaining his reasoning, Mr Tomkins said that as well as possible queues caused by Brexit, people will be returning to school and work on January 4 after the Christmas holiday.

"With potential disruptions to the UK ports this may mean significant delays on major routes to the coast, one of them being the M20 and this could have a significant impact on Maidstone and its surrounding area, along with many staff and students who travel further afield to get to school.

"Warnings we are receiving regarding potential delays to the coast and the impact this may have on wider infrastructure may mean the impact Operation Stack causes is much greater in the new year than under normal circumstances.

"With MGS being one mile away from the M20 it's therefore feasible many staff and students will have difficulty getting into school for a short period of time until things settle down.

"Having staff stuck in traffic and unable to get to school in time would present considerable capacity and health and safety issues."

Operation Stack is a procedure that uses parts of the M20 to queue lorries travelling towards the continent, to avoid causing gridlock on Kent's roads.

"We have made this difficult decision early so you enjoy the festive period without unnecessary uncertainty of what's going to happen at the start of the year."

Preparations are currently underway for Operation Brock, which will aid in possible freight backlogs into Dover after January 1, and will see one side of the motorway used by HGVs heading to cross-Channel ports, with all other traffic restricted to the 50mph contraflow on the opposite carriageway.

Mr Tomkins warned further changes, such as starting later and finishing early, could come into force if there is significant disruption on roads

During the two days the school site is closed, remote lessons will be held live on Microsoft Teams.

The head says following an assessment of the situation during those two days, they hope to have children back on site that week.

If there is significant disruption then the school day may need to be "adjusted slightly", with a slightly later start and slightly earlier finish.

"There maybe a need to welcome students back in stages" to reduce congestion in the town, he added.

If there is no disruption at all, then students can return for a normal school day on January 6.

He finished: "We have made this difficult decision early so you enjoy the festive period without unnecessary uncertainty of what's going to happen at the start of the year. We fully understand these are very challenging times for students, parents and teachers."

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