Britain is planning for some students to return to school as early as next month, as long as rates of infection continue to decrease, United Kingdom Education Secretary Gavin Williamson
“We can now start the planning for a very limited return to school for some pupils, potentially as early as next month,” Williamson said during a daily government news briefing.
Only those in kindergarten, grade one and grade six will return but only with smaller class sizes, he said. High schoolers in grades 10 and 12 will go back on a “limited basis” in order to have face to face contact with teachers, Williamson added.
Those students are being prioritized because they have the “most to lose” by staying out of school, he said.
“We’re asking schools to adopt a number of strict protective measures. This includes reducing class sizes, making sure pupils stay with these small groups, creating a protective and small bubble around them,” he said.
Williamson emphasized that schools will be “rigorous about hygiene, cleaning and hand washing.”
“This approach is based on the very best scientific advice, with children at the heart of everything we do,” Williamson added.
