Official figures show that more than half of Jersey’s primary and secondary students were off school at the start of this week, and around one in five teachers was absent.
The statistics for all States-run schools were released amid concerns about how the spread of covid in the island was affecting schools’ ability to operate, with many students and staff in isolation either due to catching the virus or being deemed a direct contact.
Around three in five primary school pupils were at school, while just a quarter of secondary school students were in attendance, bringing the average to just under 50%.
More than 6,000 students are learning from home overall, while 37 pupils were recorded as having covid.
Meanwhile, of the 785-strong teaching population, around 18% were off. 95 are isolating, shielding or awaiting a covid test; 33 are absent with sickness; and 15 were absent for family reasons. 13% of support staff were also not at work.
As a result of the covid cases and staff shortages, 11 classes were off school.
Highlands College was not included in the figures. Express has asked for an update on their attendance and staffing rates and is awaiting a reply.
The figures below are based on:
Primary school attendance figures
Average 60.4% attendance rate
Secondary school attendance figures
Average 26.2% attendance rate
ALL School Average -both primary and secondary
Average 45.4% attendance rate
Number of teachers isolating, shielding or waiting for a COVID test
95
Number of teaching staff absent with sickness
33
Number of teaching staff absent for family reasons
15
Number of support staff isolating, shielding or waiting for a COVID test
77
Number of support staff absent with sickness
42
Number of support staff absent for family reasons
14
Number of pupils learning from home
6248
Number of pupils absent with COVID
37
Number of schools with classes closed today
11
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