IT was business as normal at schools across Dorset and the New Forest yesterday, despite the many pupils and staff who have been stranded.

In Poole more than 200 pupils and some 145 staff were absent, but Stuart Twiss, head of children and young peoples strategy at the council said schools were “running smoothly”.

l But it was a close call at St Joseph’s RC VA Combined School in Parkstone with four teachers and four teaching assistants stuck as far afield as South Africa, Thailand, Abu Dhabi and Florida.

Head teacher Ally Mullany said they were one more teacher away from closing the school at the weekend, but they managed to secure supply staff.

“We wouldn’t want to compromise at all,” she added. “The concern is that it’s going to cost a fortune. We don’t have a contingency fund for something like this, and our insurance covers staff sickness –but not this.”

• Twelve members of staff at Bournemouth School for Girls have been unable to get back home from their Easter holidays.

Headteacher Alistair Brien stressed: “It’s business as usual.”

• Bob Kennedy, head of St Michael’s primary school in Somerville Road, said about 30 pupils were in destinations all over the world, including St Lucia, adding: “We’ve got one teacher in Dubai and a regular supply teacher is stranded in Brazil.”

• Heatherlands First School is missing three teaching assistants and three teachers – a quarter of the teaching staff. Deputy Head teacher Julian Churchill has stepped up to the helm with head Sally Burns currently stranded in Barbados.

He said one teacher was trying to get back by train from Sorrento in Italy.

“They got as far as Turin, but there is a rail strike in France so now they’re going across the Alps and trying to get back through Switzerland,” he added.

• At Ballard independent school in New Milton eight teachers and 30 pupils were absent. A spokeswoman told the Daily Echo that they were scattered across the globe.

She added: “The absences are not affecting classes and, because some of our missing staff are part-time, we are managing to cover their duties without having to take in supply teachers.”

• A spokeswoman at Malmesbury Park School in Charminster said: “We are running as usual,” despite the head teacher being stranded abroad and other members of staff also missing.

• At Courthill First School in Parkstone two teachers and 10 per cent of the pupils are also stranded abroad.

• At Portchester School in Harewood Road, Bournemouth, six staff members were absent out of 55.

• Kinson Primary School opened with three teachers and one teaching assistant absent. Head Liz Thomasson said a number of families were stranded in Spain, adding: “We were able to put contingency plans in place over the weekend.”