GCSE and A-Level students to get ‘face-time’ with their teachers before the summer

GCSE and A-level students will get ‘face-to-face’ time with teachers before the summer break to help their home learning. 

Primary students will be the first to head back to classrooms as early as June – but those in secondary schools will keep learning from home until the summer break.

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Boris Johnson said this evening schools would be the second stage of his three-phase plan to open Britain back up while keeping coronavirus at bay.

He said: “In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

“Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays.

“And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport.”

In a video message tonight the PM:

• Urged Brits to get back to work if they can’t from home
• Revealed Brits would be allowed to sunbathe in parks and play unlimited sport from Wednesday – and can go on day trips
• Said anyone coming into the country by air would be forced to quarantine
• Schools will start going back from June – but only if the infection level is low enough
• But he warned that pubs, cinemas and mass gatherings would be off the cards for months to come

There has been growing alarm over the continued closure of schools and how far back this will set children’s educations, particularly those from the most deprived areas.

Although schools have remained open throughout the lockdown for kids of key workers and those who are most vulnerable – there has been only a 1 per cent attendance rate.

Plans to reopen schools have also been complicated by how to introduce social distancing measures with narrow corridors and cramped classrooms.

Some headteachers have warned it would be next to impossible for primary students in particular to follow measures that would keep them two metres apart.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tham admitted yesterday it would be difficult to keep children from coming into close contact with one another.