A YEAR group was sent home from school after it was realised that more than half would have to self isolate.

This followed a confirmed case of coronavirus and “a small number” of pupils showing symptoms in Year 11 at the Sir Robert Woodard Academy in Lancing.

Principal Kieran Scanlon said: “In consultation with Public Health England, this would have led to over half the cohort being asked to self isolate. Left with a difficult choice I felt it was the best decision from both a safety and operational perspective to move our teaching online.

“Teachers at the academy have become very skilled at streaming live lessons and I’m confident that we will continue to offer our Year 11s a great education, albeit online.”

A concerned parent said: “To have a whole year group sitting at home in their GCSE year, it must be pretty serious.”