It’s good news for those ready to get back to real-life teaching and studying in the UK and beyond.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that all schools in England will reopen on 8 March. Secondary schools can choose to stagger returning over the course of a week, so that students can be tested for Covid. After-school clubs and sports will also resume.
Scotland has already opened its schools to the youngest students, in years P1-P3, aged from four to seven, and from 15 March all primary-aged children will return.
Secondary-school students who are preparing for exams will also be allowed back part-time. Universities and colleges are allowed up to 5% of their students to return for courses where face-to-face teaching is crucial and the intention is that all students will be able to return from 5 April.
In Wales, primary-aged children have already returned and, if all goes well, the remaining students will be able to return from 15 March.
Northern Ireland will be allowing students in years 1-3 (aged from 5 to 8) to return from 8 March, secondary school years 12-14 from 22 March, and those in years 4-7 and 8-11 to return after the Easter break.
From 1 March, Ireland’s junior, senior infants, first and second class will be returning to school, along with sixth years at secondary schools. It is hoped that the remainder of primary-aged children can return from 15 March, but this is under review, as is the 12th of April for the rest of the secondary-school aged pupils.
Malta’s schools have been open for all students since October.
