Steyning Grammar School is a state comprehensive school with students from across KS3 - KS5. The school also has a Boarding provision and is located in West Sussex.

On Saturday 21st November 2020, students and parents received an email informing them that the Sixth Form is to be shut until the 3rd December 2020 due to an outbreak of coronavirus.

The outbreak consists of two students in Year 12 who have tested positive for COVID-19.

This means that all Year 12 and 13 students are to be sent home and told to self-isolate. The school says that students will be provided with a full timetable of live lessons to ensure that the cohort is able to continue learning throughout the isolation period.

Students have also been informed not to socialise with people outside of their household and have been offered mental wellbeing support.

According to the school’s website, currently, there is also “one member of staff” from Year 11 and “one student” from Year 8 (Church Street) which have both tested positive for the virus.

As per government guidance, only Year 12 and Year 13 students have been told to self-isolate - the school remains open to all other year groups.

Since reopening for the new academic year, the school has put in place a number of measures to keep students, staff and the wider community safe from COVID-19. 

The measures include keeping the year groups within ‘bubbles’, the wearing of face coverings when in corridors and social spaces, the enforcement of social distancing and encouraging students and staff to wipe down their study space and wash their hands regularly.

These have generally been successful in keeping the school fully open.

The Sixth Form at Steyning Grammar School may be closing for a short period due to COVID-19, but nonetheless, the school has been doing an excellent job in ensuring that every child gets the best possible education in these unprecedented times.