Return to school delayed for secondary pupils in England

Back to school arrangements for England –– NOW CONFIRMED (Wed 30 Dec) by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. 

Millions of pupils will not return for the first two weeks of school of 2021. 
 

> Start of term to be delayed in England. Government will allow more time so every school is able to fully roll out testing for all pupils and staff.

> All pupils in exam years will return during the week beginning 11 January, with all secondary and college pupils returning full-time on the 18 January.

> "Overwhelming majority" of primary schools will open as planned on 4 January. The exception will be primary schools in some tier 4 areas which will not open as planned

> Secondary schools and colleges in areas of England with very high rates of Covid infection rates will not open to all pupils in January

> Universities asked to reduce the number of students who return to campus at the start of January

> "We will do everything we can to resist knee-jerk school closures" – Williamson 

> Teachers to be considered as priority for vaccinations once those with most urgent clinical need are vaccinated