THOUSANDS of Oxfordshire pupils have been told not to attend school today as coronavirus forces temporary closures.

Many schools are shut due to teacher shortages, caused by staff self-isolating in line with government advice.

You can read more about the reasoning here

According to Oxfordshire County Council's emergency school closures web page, almost 20 schools in the county are shut or partially shut.

Heyford Free Park School near Bicester opened today but has announced that it will be shut from tomorrow to all year groups, until further notice. 

It comes after it informed parents of a suspected Covid-19 case among staff

See the full list below - if you know of any other closures, please let us know so we can update this information accordingly: 

  • Cheney School in Headington: Partially closed. Year 10 and Year 12 are not to attend until further notice, except for very specific lessons and mock exams
  • Oxford Spires Academy: Partially closed. Spires will be closed for Years 9, 10 and 12 from today onwards, until further notice.
  • The Iffley Academy in Oxford: Completely closed until Monday
  • Long Wittenham CE Primary School: Completely closed until next Wednesday. It has been shut since Monday
  • King Alfred's Academy in Wantage: Partially closed for today only. Year 9, Year 12 and Year 13 have been asked to stay at home
  • Larkrise Primary School in East Oxford: Closed until further notice, except for children entitled to free school meals and pupils whose parents have to work (see more details below)
  • Matthew Arnold School in Botley: Partially closed. School is open to pupils in Years 7, 11, 12 and 13 but closed for pupils in Years 8, 9 and 10. At the moment this is just for today
  • Henry Box School in Witney: Partially closed tomorrow and Friday for Years 7, 8 and 9
  • Northern House Academy in Summertown: Partially closed. Only half of pupils are to attend for the remainder of the week. The reason listed is 'exceptional circumstances' and parents who are not to send in their children have been contacted
  • St Birinus School in Didcot: Partially closed. For today, tomorrow and Friday, the school will be closed to Years 9 and 10
  • St Gregory The Great Catholic School in Oxford: Partially closed. Closed to all Pod (early years) and primary pupils until tomorrow, when only Year 2 pupils will be allowed back. At secondary school, it is closed to all Key Stage 3 pupils (Years 7, 8 and 9) until further notice. Read more here
  • The Cooper School in Bicester: Partially closed. Closed today to Years 9 and 12
  • The Warriner School in Bloxham: Partially closed. Year 9 have been told not to attend from today, until further notice
  • Faringdon Community College: Partially closed. 16 per cent of staff are either self-isolating or are on long-term sick leave. Today, the school will be closed for Year 9 pupils, and all other pupils will attend. It will be closed to Year 10 pupils on Thursday, and Year 9 students on Friday.
  • Aureus School in Didcot: Partially closed. Only open to Years 8 and 9 today
  • Fringford Church of England Primary School near Bicester: School is closed for Years 5 and 6 until further notice. A notice on the website adds that Kingfisher Class is closed for the rest of term
  • Heyford Park Free School near Bicester will be closed from tomorrow until further notice due to staff shortages
  • Meadowbrook College: Partial closure until further notice. This applies to specific programmes and some outreach provisions. Parents and carers of children affected by the closure have been informed
  • Wood Green School in Witney: Partially closed today, but only for Year 12 pupils
  • Ashbury with Compton Beauchamp CE Primary School, near Shrivenham: Completely closed until further notice

Most pupils told not to attend will be sent work to complete from home via online learning platforms.

A message on Larkrise's website said: "We are facing huge challenges with staff absence today and we are significantly running below capacity. We would kindly ask you to consider keeping your child at home today if you are in a position to do so.

"We understand that this will be a challenge for those of you who need to work. School will remain open for these families particularly our NHS workers.

"Home learning packs will be sent home today."

ALSO READ: Coronavirus latest updates from Oxfordshire

Some teachers have criticised the government for confusion about how schools should respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

Schools have not yet been shut down, as some other countries have done. 

However, the guidance about self-isolation means many schools are unable to operate properly due to staff shortages.

Larkrise teacher Ed Finch is among those who appeared to call for more clarity, in a tweet about the Prime Minister's speech last night.