A LOCAL high school has been forced to have students learning from home due to Covid-related staff shortages.

Castell Alun High School, in Hope, said it made the "difficult decision" to implement distance learning for Year 9 on Monday (April 4).

It said the reason is "staff illness due to Covid", and said staffing levels have reached a "critical level" in recent weeks. 

The Leader: Castell Alun High SchoolCastell Alun High School

Colin Ellis, the school's headteacher, said: "I appreciate that this is far from ideal for all concerned. Unfortunately, staffing has been at a critical level for several weeks but this evening it has become clear that we cannot operate safely with the number of staff expected in school tomorrow and remain fully open.

"Other schools in the area have also had to make this decision. Schools are far from returning to normal, but I hope the peak of this variant has been reached and the situation will begin to improve.

"We sincerely hope that Year 9 will be able to return on Tuesday."

Last week, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd moved two year groups to online learning due to a "staffing crisis"