A NUMBER of schools in the North-East are closed today as a result of staff absences due to the coronavirus.

Some schools have partially closed to certain year groups. 

Tonight Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he will close all schools from Friday.

Leaders in Scotland and Wales have announced that schools there are to close from Friday. 

Yesterday, Geoff Barton, the secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders, said many schools would struggle to stay open beyond the end of the week.

The following schools are closed or partially closed: 

County Durham:

Bullion Lane Primary School, Chester-le-Street 

The school will be closed until Monday, March 30 because 23 members of staff have underlying health problems.

Burnside Primary School, Stanley

The nursery and provision for two-year-olds will be closed until Monday, April 20. This is due to low staff numbers.

Newker Primary School, Chester-le-Street  

The school will partially close until Monday, March 23 because of high levels of staff absence

St Bede's Catholic Comprehensive & Byron Sixth Form College, Peterlee 

The school is closed until Monday, April 20 because of a significantly reduced staffing ratio.

Villa Real School, Consett 

Conductive education classes are closed today until information is received due to large numbers of staff self-isolating.

Framwellgate School Durham

Year 10s have been told not to attend today because of staff absences. A letter sent to parents yesterday said at least 12 members of staff would be absent.

Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School 

The nursery will be closed until Monday, March 30 due to an "unprecendented" number of staff absent.

The rest of the school remains open.

Darlington:

Haughton Academy

The school is partially closed for the remainder of the week to pupils in years 7 and 8. Pupils in years 9 to 11 have been told to attend as normal, unless they have a high temperature/fever and a new persistent cough.

Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form

From tomorrow, until Friday, April 3, all learning at the college will take place online. Teacher will continue to provide resources, guidance and assessments through Google Classroom or a Google site. 

Stockton:

Egglescliffe School 

The school is closed until Friday to pupils in years 8 and 9 due to staff shortages

The Glebe Primary School

The school is closed from today and hopes to reopen on Monday

Ash Trees Academy 

The school will be closed from Monday, March 23.

North Yorkshire:

Reeth and Gunnerside Primary Schools

The schools have posted on their website that the schools are closed to reduce transmission of the coronavirus

Richmond School and Sixth Form College, Northallerton School and Sixth Form College & Stokesley School and Sixth Form College

The schools, all part of the Arete Learning Trust, have contacted parents today to advise they will be prioritising learning for years 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13. Years 9 and 10 may have to work from home, starting in the "coming days"