FOUR schools in the borough have had to ask some pupils to learn from home this week because of staff absences.

Hampshire County Council has confirmed that as of Tuesday (January 25) The Clere School, in Burghclere; Overton CE Primary School, in Court Drove; The Coppice Spring School, in Pack Lane, Kempshott; and Saxon Wood School, in Rooksdown have all had to move to remote learning for some classes or year groups.

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The latest data for England shows that 415,000 pupils (5.1 per cent) were absent because of Covid-related reasons on January 20, which was up from 3.9 per cent on January 6.

During the same period, 4.5 per cent of teachers were absent and 4.7 per cent of teaching assistants and other school staff were also off because of Covid.

A quarter of schools had absence rates of more than 15 per cent.

In Basingstoke and Deane, 5.4 per cent of the 74 schools in the borough have had to ask some pupils to work from home this week.

The Clere School, in Burghclere, has been asking some year groups to work from home since January 13 because of staff absence related to Covid.

The school said it has “high levels of teaching staff absences” and is asking Year 10s to work from home today (January 26).

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “Schools are working hard and doing all that they can to stay fully open including reorganising classes when staff have tested positive and, therefore, need to self-isolate.

“Of all 74 schools in the Basingstoke and Deane district, at the current time (Tuesday, January 25), we are aware of only four schools that have had to move to remote learning for some classes or year groups due to the impact that Covid-19 has had on staffing levels – The Clere School and Technology College, Overton CE Primary School, The Coppice Spring School, and Saxon Wood School.

“Those children who are not in school are continuing their learning via remote measures. All schools are reviewing the situation daily with a view to ensuring full attendance at school at the earliest opportunity.”

In England, secondary school pupils no longer need to wear masks in the classroom and, as of tomorrow (Thursday, January 27) will no longer be required to wear them in communal areas.

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