Students from one of Truro's biggest schools are being told they are going to have work from home because so many staff are off with Covid related illness.

Richard Lander School made the announcement this afternoon saying it had more than 30 members of staff off sick, and students in years eight, nine and ten would have to work from home until next Tuesday. With so many staff absent they say they are not able to cover classes internally or through supply agencies.

Newquay Tretherras is in the same situation with over 30 members of staff absent and has had to send years nine and ten home.

Richard Lander says it is in contact with Public Health England to discuss high levels of Covid rates within the school. It says a number of other schools in Cornwall have taken this difficult decision over the past few weeks

Posting on Facebook the school said: "I am writing to inform you that as a result of our high staff absence rates currently, students in Years 8, 9 and 10 will be required to work from home tomorrow (Friday 18 March) and Monday 21 March. Currently, we have over 30 members of staff absent, the majority of which is Covid related. This means that we are not able to cover classes internally or through supply agencies.

"For your information, several other schools in Cornwall have taken this difficult decision in recent weeks as a result of their own similar staffing absence."

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All work for students in Years 8, 9 and 10 will be set on Moodle. Students will be able access their work by clicking onto their timetable links in Moodle. There will be no live teaching for these two days.

If any student is unable to access their Moodle work, they should email ITsupport@richardlander.cornwall.sch.uk

"It is regrettable that we have had to take this decision, but it is in the safeguarding interests of students due to our current significant staff absence.

"A small group of students in Years 8, 9 and 10 are involved in the Cornwall Music Festival tomorrow and these students will be allowed to come in to school to take part in this. They will be supervised by the music department all day."