Concerns have been raised that staff shortages as a result of Covid-19 are causing children's education to suffer.

On one day last week Katharine Lady Berkeley's School in Wotton-under-Edge were missing 17 staff, mainly for Covid-related reasons, while Cam Everlands Primary School has closed for two weeks due to a shortage of staff.

At KLB half of year seven and the whole of year 13 had to self-isolate following positive cases, with the school using Microsoft Teams to deliver remote learning.

The total number of cases of Covid-19 reported by either staff or students at the school has now reached double figures, although all cases appear to be in isolation.

In a letter to parents last week headteacher Tim Rand said: “It has been increasingly difficult to keep all aspects of school life at the usual high standards.

With the number of supply teachers we have to use it is difficult to maintain the same quality of provision; this inevitably puts a strain on the school community and its resources.

“There may be a time in the coming weeks when we need to adopt a different model of delivery with more year groups being asked to work from home. We would very much like to avoid this.

“We will continue to support and teach them as best we possibly can over the coming weeks, whether it is in school or remotely.

“However, there may be further obstacles ahead.”

Cam Everlands Primary School, which has been closed since Monday due to a shortage of staff following a number of coronavirus cases at the school, will remain shut until November 30.