A school has shut today in a bid to cope with the effects of vulnerable staff members being told to work from home during the coronavirus crisis.

Fulston Manor School in Sittingbourne said the decision was taken after Monday’s press conference by the Prime Minister where people falling into vulnerable groups were advised to stay home.

In a letter home to parents yesterday, head of school Susie Burden said: “A significant number of our staff come into these categories and will therefore be following government advice to avoid contact through working from home.

"It is clear that health and safety considerations will make it impossible for us to remain fully open after today [Tuesday] and, potentially, extremely difficult to continue at all.

“The school will be closed tomorrow [Wednesday] for all students so planning may take place, designed to address the needs of as many students as possible.

"The school will partially re-open on Thursday for as many students as we can safely accommodate, with further details provided for the remainder regarding work they can undertake at home.”

Ms Burden said a decision would be taken on which students would be invited back to the school on Thursday, but priority would be given to those preparing for exams. Parents were told to expect an email.

The announcement came just days after Fulston Manor’s executive head called on the government to be clearer about the approach it wants schools to take amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Alan Brookes said he wanted to see guidance given on whether there would be any closure plans for schools.

He added: “We’re very concerned about contingency plans for GCSEs and A-Levels.

“There is a great deal of anxiety in schools as we’re waiting to see if these exams are likely to take place as scheduled.”

Elsewhere in the county, three schools in Maidstone have announced some pupils will have to stay at home as a result of fewer teachers able to be in the classroom, and a school in Hoo has shut following a suspected case of coronavirus.

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