Some students at a Douglas secondary school are being sent home due to “unprecedented staff absenteeism”.
Ballakermeen High School’s Year 8, 9 and 10 students have been asked to stay home on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday respectively.
Headmistress Andrienne Burnette said more than 20% of teachers were absent “for various reasons”.
It is now “simply no longer possible” to continue teaching as usual, she added.
The decision follows to send 11th graders early on educational leave due to the lack of substitute teachers.
In a letter to parents, Ms Burnette said the school had “made every effort to continue normal operations”, including the use of assistant teachers.
However, it was not believed that staffing would “improve significantly enough to enable us to have every year group present and the school to run safely”.
She said: “I fully appreciate the impact this will have on our young people and families and I must apologize for the disruption to learning it will bring to everyone, a year group at home every day to keep.
“I would not take this exceptional measure unless absolutely necessary.”
Three of the island’s high schools sent students home earlier this year due to staff shortages caused by a combination of Covid and other winter illnesses.
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