Welshpool High School building will close a week early ahead of the Christmas holidays begin so that urgent works can be carried out to its heating system.

Pupils have been told that they will have lessons online from home for four days starting from Monday, December 18, until the end of the Autumn term while "major" boiler infrastructure repairs are carried out at the school.

Powys County Council said it needs the heating system completely switched off for up to three weeks to allow the urgent works to take place.

Headteacher Jon Arnold told parents and carers in a letter on Wednesday (November 22) that the school can have a small number of students who are unable to access Google Classroom at home but there are limited toilet facilities and no meals provided.

School buses will not run during the week starting December 18 but will return to normal service for the start of the spring term on January 9.

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Following discussions with the school, it has been agreed that the last day in the school building for learners and staff will be Friday, December 15. The school will move to online learning for the last four days of the autumn term, which finishes on Thursday, December 21.

Councillor Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “The nature of the urgent works requires the heating system to be completely switched off for up to three weeks.

“Following discussions with the school, it was agreed that closing the building for the final week of the autumn term would have the least impact on learners.

“The school have informed parents of the situation so that they have enough time to make the appropriate childcare arrangements for those four days.

“We’re confident that the works will be completed ready for the return of learners and staff after the Christmas holidays.”