June 9, 2020 2.50 pm This story is over 45 months old

Plans dropped to get all primary students back to school

Primary schools will be given “flexibility” to choose when they can return
By Local Democracy Reporter

Primary schools in England may not be able to welcome back all year groups before the end of term, the government says.

The initial plan was for schools to adopt a phased return, starting with reception and years 1 & 6 on June 1, before aiming for all primary pupils to be at school for four weeks before summer.

Year 10 and 12 students were then going to be allowed to see teachers as of June 15 as they prepared for an exam year.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson delivered a statement to the House of Commons about schools on Tuesday, June 9.

In his statement, Mr Williamson said that schools will now be given “flexibility” to bring pupils back when they deem it safe to do so.

The government will also be aiming to bring back all pupils in September, saying: “We are not able to welcome all primary for a full month before the summer.”

The announcement comes after health secretary Matt Hancock said secondary schools may not fully reopen until September “at the earliest” in his coronavirus briefing on Monday, June 8.

On Thursday, June 4, less than 12% of the primary school population were actually back in class, according to data from the department of education.

Two schools in Lincoln have confirmed positive COVID-19 tests, with one school closing and another sending a ‘social bubble’ home to self-isolate.