PARENTS with children at St John's School, Marlborough have been told that pupils in Years 8, 9, 10 and 12 will not be allowed in from tomorrow due to a lack of staff.

Head Ian Tucker said in a letter: "I referred yesterday that St John’s Academy is trying to operate to the best of its ability within the current outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

"This situation has now developed to the point where we will need to close the Academy to certain year groups for the foreseeable future.

"As of Thursday, 19th March, St John’s will only be able to have students in from years 7, 11 and 13. Years 8, 9, 10 and 12 will need to work from home."

He said the school timetable had been rewritten to ensure lessons will be taught by specialist teachers as far as possible, and new, individual timetables for all students in years 7, 11 and 13 will be distributed.

The letter said: "If you are a key, frontline worker in health, education, law and order or the military and this decision affects you, please can you get in touch with us.

"The recent decisions have not been taken lightly at all and we deeply regret having to be the ones to make them, but we simply do not have the staff to be able to operate the school normally for the time being."