A teacher at one of Sydney's most exclusive schools has described as "ridiculous" a decision to flout social-distancing guidelines and host a large assembly to celebrate a sporting win.

Key points: The Prime Minister has ordered gatherings of more than 500 people to be cancelled

The Prime Minister has ordered gatherings of more than 500 people to be cancelled Several Sydney schools have had to close temporarily this month, due to coronavirus

Several Sydney schools have had to close temporarily this month, due to coronavirus The Scot's College was contacted for comment

An email from a senior staff member at The Scots College, in Bellevue Hill, yesterday ordered staff to take all students to "a brief assembly on the Main Oval to welcome back our rowers".

The private school's crew had just won the prestigious Head of the River regatta for the first time since 1979.

The race is steeped in tradition and hotly contested by Sydney's most famous boys' colleges.

Hundreds of students attended the assembly, and one yelled "this isn't allowed, this isn't allowed" as the crowd gathered.



This week, NSW Education Department secretary Mark Scott announced schools would adopt social-distancing measures requiring them to cancel assemblies, excursions, travel, some events and conferences.

At the weekend, Prime Minister Scott Morrison ordered gatherings of more than 500 people to be cancelled amid fears about the spread of coronavirus.

A long-serving staff member of Scots College said the assembly was "ridiculous".

"It goes against what the Government has stipulated," they said.

The Scots College held an assembly despite the coronavirus pandemic. ( ABC News: Paige Cockburn )

"It's absolutely ridiculous to hold an assembly.

"They've taken all these precautions: packaging our lunches, shutting things down and then they decide to have an assembly to celebrate a sporting win."

The employee, who did not want to be identified, said other staff had also questioned the decision.

"It went against the advice of the NSW Health Department, the World Health Organisation — all the warnings we've been given," the staff member said.

"It's very strange."

The ABC understands students were seated with "home group" classmates at the assembly, in an attempt to mitigate coronavirus risks.

But one student told the ABC he, and others, had expressed concerns about the celebration to some teachers.

He said the school had cancelled smaller gatherings, like band practice.

A mother who was waiting to pick up her son from the assembly said the school had been cautious, and did not have a problem with the gathering.

"I'm not worried, life must go in some way you know," she said.

"It's in God's hands."

The Scots College was contacted for comment.