HUNDREDS of high school pupils in East Lothian are working from home again - just two days after schools re-opened following the Christmas holidays.

Five of the county's six high schools have made the decision to ask certain year groups to work from home due to crippling levels of staff absence related to Covid-19.

Youngsters in S4 to S6 at North Berwick High School - some in the midst of prelim exams - will begin studying remotely for at least a fortnight from tomorrow.

S4 to S6 pupils from Dunbar Grammar School will begin remote learning for likely a similar period from Monday, while S4-6 pupils from Haddington's Knox Academy were working from home today and tomorrow (Friday).

While S3s at Ross High School, Tranent, and Preston Lodge High School, Prestonpans, started working from home from today.

At present, Musselburgh Grammar School has all year groups in school.

Michelle Moore, headteacher of North Berwick High School, said to parents and carers in a letter today: "We were pleased to weclome all students back to school yesterday.

"However, the evolving situation regarding Covid does mean that we are facing some significant challenges relating to staffing levels, meaning we need to take the decision to move some pupils to remote learning.

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"For this reason, we ask that from Friday our S4-6 young people learn and study remotely throughout the upcoming prelim diet and only come into school when they have a prelim."

Staff, she added, would continue to be available to support revision and learning; however, teachers were likely to be covering younger year groups at times when they would usually be teaching senior phase.

The headteacher asked parents and carers for "support and understanding that communication through Google Classroom or via email may be replied to flexibly".

"We really appreciate your support of this arrangement during this very challenging time for schools in the light of high levels of staff absence," said Mrs Moore.

"We believe this solution will give more certainty to our pupils and families during this time."

Meanwhile, today there were nine classes at primary schools in East Lothian who were working from home due to staff shortages.