Its Christmas concert has also been derailed
Alex Driscoll Breaking news reporter
18:29, 10 Dec 2025
Budehaven Community School.(Image: Google Maps)
A secondary school and sixth form in Cornwall has been forced to close for the rest of the week after a flu and infection outbreak.
Budehaven Community School, a foundation school in Bude, made the announcement today (Wednesday, December 10) after an outbreak of influenza and Group A Streptococcus (Strep A).
The school said that after consulting Cornwall Council, the school’s chair and vice chair of governors and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the decision was made to move to online learning to stop the spread and teach students from home instead.
The remote curriculum will be in place tomorrow (Thursday, December 11) and Friday, December 12, with hopes that the school site can reopen next week.
Leaders at the school, which has some 1140 pupils on roll according to gov.uk, said that the decision “has not been taken lightly” and was made in order to reduce the spread of flu and Strep A.
Due to the closure of the school, the planned Christmas concert tomorrow has been postponed and will be rearranged for next week.
Budehaven Community School said it intends to return to in-school learning from Monday, December 15.
Posting on Facebook, headteacher Dominic Wilkes said: “Following a careful risk assessment regarding the current unprecedented and increasing incidences of Influenza (Flu) and Group A Streptococcus infection amongst our pupil, Sixth Form student, and staff populations, we have consulted with Cornwall Council leaders, the school’s Chair and Vice Chairs of Governors, and the UKHSA regarding the situation.
“In order to mitigate the risk of further infection, it has been agreed by Cornwall Council and the Chair of Governors that we will move to a remote curriculum for all year groups for Thursday and Friday this week using SPARX English, maths and science for Key Stages 3 and 4, and appropriate work will be set for Sixth Form students by teachers.
“This will mean that all pupils, and Sixth Form students will be working from home for the next two days.
“A communication will be sent out this afternoon regarding how to access our remote learning provision.
“We hope that this measure, that has not been taken lightly, and has been taken following guidance from UKHSA, will help to reduce the spread of illness.
“We intend to return to the normal in-school learning provision on Monday 15th December.”
The NHS website says Strep A is a common type of bacteria which are more common in children than adults.
Most infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics.
Nationally health leaders have warned that the NHS is bracing for an unprecedented flu wave this winter, with many people reporting symptoms that are hitting harder and lasting longer.
Last month, the UKHSA said a new strain was driving the early surge in cases, with “increases first seen in teenagers and young adults, followed by younger children”.