The Prime Minister has confirmed all schools in England will go back from 8 March, with the decision for a phased return during that week left to schools.

Returning back to school is compulsory for all pupils, with penalty fines imposed on those who do not comply.

The government has been clear that the return to face-to-face education is the national priority and that 2 weeks’ notice would be given ahead of any change. The return to school for all pupils is being prioritised due to the significant and proven impact caused by being out of school to the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

"All the evidence shows that schools are safe and the risk posed to children by Covid is vanishingly small," the Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a press conference on Monday evening.

"But to offer even greater reassurance we're introducing twice weekly testing of secondary school and college pupils and asking them to wear face coverings for the rest of this term."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "the priority must be for all children to be back in school as quickly as possible and to stay in school".

Outdoor after-school sports and activities also allowed to restart from March 8^th.

Mass testing and face coverings

For pupils in secondary schools there will be mass Covid testing; two tests taken at school and one at home. This will be followed by twice-weekly rapid tests carried out by parents at home.

As a temporary extra measure, staff in both primary and secondary schools and only pupils in secondary schools will be advised to wear a face covering in areas where social distancing cannot be maintained.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We have rolled out rapid testing to schools and universities at great pace to help drive down transmission rates among school age children, college and university students. I am very pleased that regular testing is now supporting the reopening of schools and face-to-face education.

Around one in three people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and will be spreading it without realising it, so rapid regular testing offers a reliable and effective additional tool to help keep schools safe.”

Education unions concerned by ‘big bang’

Education unions have raised concerns over a ‘big bang’ reopening for schools and have called for a “safe and sustainable” approach, warning it will be “reckless” to bring all pupils back in one go.

A full return would mean 10 million pupils and staff travelling to and from school each day, says a statement from signatories including the biggest classroom union the National Education Union (NEU).

A Sage scientific advisory group meeting from 28 January, with minutes published on Monday, cautioned with "medium confidence" that the "opening of primary and secondary schools is likely to increase effective R by a factor of 1.1 to 1.5 (10% to 50%)".

The NEU said the reopening plan showed the prime minister, "despite all his words of caution, failed to learn the lessons of his previous mistakes".

Mary Bousted, joint leader of the NEU, said: "It remains the case, unfortunately, that cases are three times higher now than when schools re-opened last September."

The teachers’ union NASUWT said the government had failed to demonstrate that its plans will not compromise the safety of teachers, staff or pupils.

“Re-opening schools and colleges fully on 8 March is one thing; keeping them open and preventing the need for further national restrictions is quite another,” said the union’s general secretary Patrick Roach.

“The government’s failure to demonstrate that it has taken full account of the scientific evidence to support its decision on full reopening risks undermining the confidence of the public and those working in schools and colleges.

“It is vital that the government recognises that it has already lost the trust of many teachers and needs to do much more to win the confidence of a profession that has continued, throughout the pandemic, to deliver everything that has been asked of them.”

The union also said it was “hugely regrettable and frustrating” that teachers had not been given priority in the vaccination programme.

“Vaccinating education staff would send a clear message that the government is taking seriously the concerns of the profession and demonstrating a genuine commitment to limiting the risk of further disruption to children’s education,” said Mr Roach.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I know this is a moment that students and parents up and down the country have been waiting for, and I would like to take this opportunity to give my thanks to all education and childcare staff and parents who have worked so hard to make sure students have continued to receive a high-quality education throughout this lockdown.

The testing of staff and students ahead of their return to secondary schools and colleges, alongside strengthened safety measures, should reassure families and education staff that extra measures are in place alongside the existing bubble system, enhanced hygiene and COVID secure precautions.

We are all well aware that being back in school or college brings huge benefits to young people’s education, development and wellbeing. The classroom is the very best place for education and the return of face-to-face teaching for all pupils will be a welcome move for pupils and parents across the country.” 

£1bn catch up funding

The government is committed to help pupils catch up on lost learning. An additional £300m has been added to the £1bn catch-up funding announced last year. There will be future announcements on how this is likely to be spent, such as on summer clubs, tutoring, after-school lessons, activities and sports.

A school catch-up tsar, Sir Kevan Collins, has been appointed to lead on this recovery, with particular concerns about the biggest negative impact falling on the most disadvantaged.                                  

Cancelled Exams

GCSE and A-levels will be replaced by teachers’ grades and there will be "mini-exams" which are intended to "inform" the judgements made by teachers, rather than be used to decide results.

The mini-exams will be marked by teachers within schools and are likely to be options for schools to use to assess pupils, rather than being compulsory.

Results could be published earlier than usual, allowing more time for appeals ahead of university admissions.

Vocational exams are also expected to use teachers' grades, but with different arrangements for qualifications requiring practical skills.

More details on exams are expected later this week on Thursday.

Latest information

For the latest guidance and information please visit:

Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

Education, universities and childcare - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare

Coronavirus (Covid-19) - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus