REDNOCK School's headteacher has asked all Year 9 pupils to stay off for two days due to rising Covid-19 cases.

David Alexander has asked the whole year group to learn from home today (Thursday) and tomorrow.

Seventeen staff are currently absent, leaving the school without enough staff to teach the students in person.

Mr Alexander said he had to make the "agonising choice" because "a significant number of students and staff have been affected by Covid symptoms and by flu symptoms".

The students have been set work to do online.

This comes as Covid cases in the Stroud district have risen by 500 per cent.

The new figures, released by the UK Health Security Agency, are based on a comparison between the week to October 9 and the week to October 16 and are per 100,000 people.

In Stroud district, in the week to October 16 there were 925 cases reported per 100,000, compared to the previous week where just 154 were reported. 

Meanwhile Gloucester and South Gloucestershire have both seen more than a 250 per cent rise in cases.

Mr Alexander added: "We have been proactive in phoning for supply teachers last week for this week's cover, as we know from other schools that supply agencies are reporting that their staff are unavailable due to illness as well.

"We have five cover supervisors who work full time in the school so that we minimise the number of supply teachers whom we get into the school.

"The thinking behind this is that we then have consistent staff in front of the students; those cover supervisors know the students, know the routines and know how to reward or sanction the students. It creates a much better learning environment.

"Unfortunately this week has seen the numbers of absentees rise meaning that we could not cover all of the classes."

Rednock has now reintroduced the wearing of face masks in communal areas, and employed additional cleaners during the day to sanitise the touch points in particular.

There has also been renewed emphasis placed on hygiene routines.

"We are taking every precaution to reduce the risk of infection," said the head.

"I have been delighted with the way in which staff - but especially the students have responded.

"They have been mature and responsible about the mitigations."

Mr Alexander said he hopes that next week's half term will make a difference.

"I sincerely hope that the holiday break will see people rested; students will mix with less people with the anticipated knock on effect that we will be near full capacity on November 1st."

He added: "It has been extremely challenging again - after lockdowns in the last academic year, the last thing we want to do is ask students not to come in and to have to work from online resources.

"Health and safety trumps everything, however."