London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Back to school: How are pupils being kept Covid-safe?

Back to school: How are pupils being kept Covid-safe?

Pupils are returning to school across the UK - with new measures in place to prevent large numbers being sent home because of Covid.

However, the start of the new term has prompted concerns it could spark a rise in cases.

Could schools lead to a surge in Covid cases?


It is right for children to have a "much more normal education experience" this term, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told BBC News. He said mass testing offered a "sensible balance".

And Dr Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England's medical director, said "schools are not the drivers and not the hubs of infection".

But Sage, a group of scientists advising the government, has warned "it is highly likely" high levels of coronavirus will be seen in schools in England by the end of September

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon thinks the new term could be linked to a rapid rise in Covid 19 cases.

How often will pupils be tested?


In England, all secondary-school pupils are being asked to take two lateral-flow tests at school - three to five days apart.

Schools are testing for Covid just before term starts and staggering the return of pupils to manage this.

They have been contacting parents to seek consent and inform them of arrangements.

Those testing positive will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and instructed to isolate.

In Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, pupils and staff are being encouraged to take home or community-based tests.

Across the UK, ongoing twice-weekly voluntary lateral-flow testing for pupils at home will be encouraged.

What happens if a pupil tests positive?


Pupils who test positive must isolate at home for 10 days.

The child - or their parents - will be asked to provide details about close contacts.

Children named as close contacts will be asked to take a polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) swab test.

But this term, unless they test positive themselves, they will not have to self-isolate.

It's hoped this will avoid whole classes being sent home.

Will pupils still need to socially distance?


For schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, social-distancing measures have been relaxed.

In many ways, the responsibility has been handed over to head teachers to decide what common-sense measures are needed.

Depending on the layout and size of their school, some will decide to keep some of their one-way systems and crowd-control measures.


In Scotland, more restrictions are being maintained until the end of September.

On school premises, all staff must stay at least 1m (3ft) from pupils and colleagues.

What about face coverings and ventilation?


Face coverings are no longer routinely advised for staff or pupils in schools England and Wales, although they are still recommended in crowded spaces such as school buses.

But in Scotland, face coverings are required at least until the end of September. And in Northern Ireland, they are required in class for the first six weeks of term at least.

The Department for Education has pledged to provide 300,000 carbon-dioxide monitors to schools in England from September - to help identify where airflow is limited and viruses may more easily spread.

The Welsh government is funding a £6m programme to increase air circulation and purity. Some 30,000 CO2 sensors and 1,800 ozone disinfecting machines will be made available.

Prof Catherine Noakes, a specialist in airborne infections, said ventilation could reduce airborne risk of coronavirus by up to 70%, but won't stop close contact transmission. She said monitors will help schools realise which areas are poorly ventilated, so they can take action.

Are there any other measures?


If there is an outbreak, the Department for Education has also published a list of measures schools in England can consider, including:

*  having classes and assemblies outside
*  improving ventilation indoors

It may also become necessary to temporarily reintroduce bubble groups and face masks in communal spaces in areas with higher Covid rates.


Will exams go ahead in 2022?

Exams are expected to return in 2022 for GCSEs, A-levels and vocational qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

*  In England, pupils are likely to be told which topics will come up
*  In Wales, exams will be modified to take account of the challenges pupils have faced
*  In Northern Ireland, national exams will have significantly fewer papers

In Scotland, the government says exams will go ahead next year. National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams will be held in spring 2022 providing public health advice allows it. Course content will be reduced.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×