The Sheffield College and Kendal College have become the first two colleges in England to announce they are closing their sites to students due to coronavirus.

In a press conference yesterday prime minister Boris Johnson said that the government was not yet advising schools to close.

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However, in a statement on its website Sheffield College said that by 20 March all students and the majority of staff would be expected to study and work remotely.

Colleges and coronavirus

The statement adds: “The college’s executive leadership team has taken this decision today following Public Health England’s latest guidance on social distancing announced yesterday.

“Staff and student safety is our number one priority. Given that we have around 13,000 learners a year, based across six sites, it is important that we look at how we are working to ensure we keep everyone safe.

“As a result of this phased plan, face-to-face meetings, events and trips are being cancelled. The college is doing everything it can to plan for future scenarios including examinations.”

Kendal College announced that it will close the college site to students from 18 March and to staff from 23 March, with the aim of reopening following the Easter break on 14 April.

In a statement published on the college website, principal Kelvin Nash said: “Student and staff welfare is our top priority. We are not going against government advice in closing the college, but rather we are upholding its advice in terms of limiting social mobility, and self-isolation.

“The college has no confirmed cases of coronavirus. However, a number of staff and students are now in isolation due to the more stringent rules announced on Monday evening.

“The increased isolation of our staff has now meant that as a college we can no longer provide sufficient cover for some of our provision, or offer our learners the quality of delivery, service, and standards that they should expect from their education provider.”