Education Secretary said:
“Everyone working in schools and colleges has been going to
extraordinary lengths over the past weeks and months to continue
educating our young people, providing care for vulnerable
children and juggling the demands of having some children in
school while most receive their education remotely.
“We are hugely grateful for all the work underway to prepare for
students’ return to the classroom next week. The extra safety
measures in place, including asking secondary students to wear
face coverings in classrooms, as well as the comprehensive
twice-weekly rapid testing on offer to students and families
should provide extra reassurance that we are taking every
opportunity to reduce transmission of the virus and keep everyone
safe.”
Further information:
Schools are currently open to vulnerable children and children of
critical workers, but if critical workers can work from home and
look after their children at the same time then they should do
so.
We are taking every possible measure to reduce covid cases and
the protective measures that schools have been following
throughout the autumn term continue to be in place to help
protect staff and students, while the national lockdown helps
reduce transmission in the wider community.
Strengthened protective measures when more students return
include wearing of face coverings by all students and adults in
secondary schools and colleges wherever social distancing cannot
be maintained.
All secondary and college students, all staff, and family members
of students are all eligible for twice-weekly rapid asymptomatic
testing from 08 March.
