School's out for some CRHS pupils due to 'significant' staff absence

Lessons cancelled and students told not to come to school

Some students at Castle Rushen High School have had their lessons cancelled and are being told not to attend the school.

It's due to 'significant and rising' staff illness and Covid-19 isolation and will affect five year groups.

All lessons have been cancelled tomorrow (Wednesday, 1 December) for Year 12 students.

Face to face lessons have been scrapped for the whole of Year 10 on Thursday (2 December)and for Year 9 on Friday (3 December).

The full list of changes so far is:

• Year 9: Lessons cancelled all day on Friday, 3 December
• Year 10: Lessons cancelled all day on Thursday, 2 December
• Year 11:  Lessons 5 and 6 on Thursday, 2 December
• Year 12: Lessons cancelled all day on Wednesday, 1 December
• Year 12: Lessons 5 and 6 cancelled on Thursday, 2 December
• Year 13: Lessons 1 – 3 cancelled on Wednesday, 1 December
• Year 13: Lessons 5 and 6 cancelled on Thursday, 2 December

Headteacher Keith Winstanley has told parents this is a 'fluid situation' and has warned more lessons could be scrapped adding: "It seems likely that we will also experience disruption next week."

He says the school will do its best to try and provide some remote learning 'within the constraints of illness'. 

Parents are being asked to check for messages from the school 'frequently' before sending their children to school.

In the House of Keys today Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Tim Glover claimed 17 staff were absent from the secondary school yesterday.

In response the Department of Education, Sport and Culture told Manx Radio: "We have seen an increase in staff absence at Castle Rushen High School in the past couple of days which is being managed internally within the school.

"The numbers vary daily so hard to confirm exact figures."