Head pays tribute to staff for standing shoulder to shoulder during coronavirus isolation plans

Matt Eastham, head at Priory Academy in Penwortham, near Preston, said he had received numerous messages of support from parents as the school tried to get to grips with making sure pupils don't miss out on education as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

In a letter to parents, he said: " I am so grateful for the many messages of thanks and support that numerous parents have taken the time to send in to me over the last week or so.

However, there is no doubt that my job in terms of decision making has been made that much easier knowing we have a staff at Priory who are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with me in times of challenge and uncertainty. I'm proud and sincerely blown away by the sense of community that Priory has.

In times of crisis, we might assume we look to government. This week clearly and proudly it’s been the staff here at Priory that I would like to offer my sincere thanks to.

Their approach to the crisis has been so deeply impressive, so uplifting, so reassuringly visible, even in these uncertain times."

Pupils were sent home with workpacks and he urged the year 11 to carry on ith their online course even though GCSEs ahve been scrapped.

Mr Eastham said the school was working with colleges and he told the teens to to continue to engage with the online learning that staff are providing and revision to May half term, as would normally be the case if pupils were still revising for exams.