Spate of 12 staff illnesses forces Inverness primary school to close its doors for the weekend
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An Inverness primary school will close tomorrow on health and safety grounds after a spate of staff illnesses.
Twelve members of staff at Smithton Primary are currently off sick and headteacher Aileen Mackay said the severe wintry weather risked a further reduction in teacher numbers through travel issues.
RELATED STORY: Inverness city primary and secondary schools re-open but some outlying schools remain closed amid severe wintry weather
Having consulted with the school’s parent council, Mrs Mackay said she hoped the long weekend would act as a “circuit-breaker” to stop the sickness bug in its tracks.
In a message to parents, she wrote: “I’ve been in consultation with the area manager and the Parent Council.
“It is, with huge regret, that I need to close the school tomorrow on health and safety grounds.
“As it stands there are twelve members of staff off with illnesses as well as one or two who would be affected by the weather and road conditions of where they live.
“A partial opening would mean some children would have access to their teacher and others wouldn’t. In the same household there could be one sibling coming in and another one staying at home.
“You would be juggling google classroom and getting to and from school/ELC as well. It could also mean that the nastiness is spread even more and more people off next week.
“Hopefully this will be the ‘circuit-breaker’ that we need to get us all back together on Monday.”
Some of the school's staff will attend tomorrow to coordinate google classroom activities for pupils and parents at home.
