How will the new lockdown impact schools, colleges and exams?

Boris Johnson is under increasing pressure to set out a “route map” for getting pupils back into the classroom as experts warn of a “lost” generation of children.

This week Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to confirm schools will not reopen after the February half-term break, as ministers had hoped.

And although the Prime Minister said the Government is “looking at the potential of relaxing some" lockdown measures by mid-February, he refused to guarantee that pupils would return to classes before Easter.

“We want to see schools back as fast as possible, we want to do that in a way that is consistent with fighting the epidemic and keeping the infection rate down," he said.

So what is the plan for schools?

Boris Johnson has told the public he will tell teachers and parents when schools in England can reopen “as soon as we can.” 
PA

- What did the Prime Minister say?

Mr Johnson said the Government was "looking at the potential of relaxing some measures" before mid-February — but this is not thought to include the reopening of schools.

During a visit to a vaccine centre, he said: "We've now got the R [reproduction rate] down below 1 across the whole of the country, that's a great achievement, we don't want to see a huge surge of infection just when we've got the vaccination programme going so well and people working so hard.

"I understand why people want to get a timetable from me today, what I can tell you is we'll tell you, tell parents, tell teachers as much as we can as soon as we can."

Downing Street later sought to clarify, Mr Johnson’s comments, saying that ministers would continue monitoring the data to decide "what we may or may not be able to ease from 15 February onwards".

- What about Education Secretary Gavin Williamson?

This week Gavin Williamson is expected to confirm that teaching will not return to the classroom after the February half-term break.

It comes after Robert Halfon, Conservative chairman of the Commons Education Committee, called for a minister to be summoned to the House of Commons to explain the Government’s approach.

Mr Halfon told the BBC: “It may be that one thing the Government should consider is that even if there are tighter restrictions in other parts of our society and economy, you have those restrictions in order to enable the schools to open.”

- Is this a(nother) U-turn?

Right up until England was plunged a third national lockdown on January 5, ministers had insisted that schools should remain open.

The Government even threatened legal action again Greenwich Council after the authority ordered schools to close early for Christmas amid rising infection rates.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock  previously said it was "right for education and for public health" to keep schools open. Now, the Government is not commiting to any swift return to the classroom.

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- What will stay open?

Vulnerable children and those of key workers will still be able to go to colleges, primary and secondary schools, and Mr Johnson said nurseries and other early years settings will remain open in England.

- What about elsewhere in the UK?

A  slow return is likely for Scotland's schools when the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eventually eased but for now restrictions remain in place until Mid February. 

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the youngest pupils and those with additional support needs will be among the first to return to classrooms.

Older pupils preparing for assessments are also likely to be among the initial wave while the majority of students are expected to continue learning from home.

Education Minister Peter Weir said he hopes the Executive can update schools “next week” on whether or not they can reopen. Schools in Northern Ireland are due to open their doors after the mid-term break in February but that is now doubted after First Minister Arlene Foster confirmed that the current lockdown regulations have been extended until March 5.

The most recent plan was for primary pupils to be taught remotely for the week from January 4-8, while for secondary school Years 8 to 11, remote learning is due to last for the entire month.

- What about exams?

This summer’s GCSE and A-level exams in England have been cancelled.

Mr Williamson told MPs that the Government will put its “trust in teachers, rather than algorithms”.

The Education Secretary acknowledged that exams are the “fairest way” of assessing what a student knows, but said the impact of the pandemic meant it was not possible to hold exams in the summer.

Mr Williamson told MPs that SATs exams will also not be going ahead this year across England.

- What about universities?

The latest guidance on the return to universities splits students into two groups.

Those who are on courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, education or social work will be returning to campus for the spring term and be tested twice or self-isolate for 10 days.

All other students are being told to remain where they are and will start their term online, with distance learning in place "until at least Mid-February". 

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