A STOURBRIDGE school closed due to "high levels of covid" affecting staffing levels.

Ridgewood High closed to all pupils, except those of keyworkers, on Thursday (December 9) and Friday (December 10).

Headteacher Mrs Rae Cope put out a letter saying the closure was necessary as there were "not enough staff to safely operate the school."

Students of key workers were told they would be contacted to see whether they needed a place for their child on the two days.

Pupils were told to move to live learning and assignments at home with the school reopening to all pupils on Monday (December 13).

The letter states that around 40 per cent of cases of covid amongst pupils were "asymptomatic" while "many of the other cases have had the same symptoms as a common cold."

A letter to parents states: "You will be aware from my previous communications over the past few weeks, that we have had high levels of covid in school recently.

"This is now affecting our staffing levels so that unfortunately we do not have enough staff to safely operate the school for the rest of this week.

"Following a meeting with the UK Health Security Agency (formerly known as Public Health England) and the local Health Protection Team, we have taken the difficult decision to close the school for the next two days only, Thursday 9th and Friday 10th December.

"Students who previously attended with us in the lockdown will be contacted to establish if they need a place.

"For our new Year 7s, where we have had a number of outbreaks, we can only cater for those keyworkers who cannot find any other provision."

The letter goes on: "We strongly advise that all our students and staff take a lateral flow test on Sunday evening before returning to school as 40% of our cases so far have been asymptomatic.

"Many of the other cases have had the same symptoms as a common cold.

"We advise that all children with any symptoms, get a PCR test before they return."