Covid: When will schools reopen?

All schools in England can reopen on Monday 8 March.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been setting out details of government plans to lift the national coronavirus lockdown across England.

All pupils - in all years - can return to being taught face-to-face in schools and colleges.

Mr Johnson told MPs the return would be supported by twice-weekly Covid testing of secondary school and college pupils. This will initially be on-site and then carried out at home by parents or carers.

Clubs for children in school buildings - both before and after normal school hours - will also be allowed to resume from 8 March.

Other children's activities - such as sport - can also restart.

Students on higher education courses requiring "practical teaching, specialist facilities or on-site assessments" will also return from 8 March.

Mr Johnson said the government was reviewing the timing for the return of other face-to-face teaching in colleges and universities. He said a decision would be made by the end of the Easter holidays.

For a "limited period", students and staff in higher education, further education and secondary schools will be asked to wear face coverings indoors - including classrooms - unless 2m social distancing can be maintained.

Face coverings for staff and adult visitors are also recommended in early years and primary school settings - when social distancing between adults is not possible. For example, when moving around corridors and communal areas.

Scotland's youngest pupils have returned to the classroom full time.

The move - as part of a phased reopening - includes all pupils in P1-P3 as well as pre-school children.

Senior secondary pupils can go in part-time in order to complete work for national qualifications. And universities and colleges can bring back up to 5% of their students, where face-to-face teaching is critical.

From around 15 March, the remaining primary school years - four to seven - will go back. Some of the oldest secondary school pupils will return at least part-time. The government hopes that all remaining groups will return to school on 5 April at the latest.

Pupils aged three to seven have returned to classroom teaching - along with some older pupils on vocational courses.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has said he hopes older primary pupils - and secondary pupils preparing for exams - will be back on Monday 15 March "provided things continue to improve".

Schools and colleges are already open for children of key workers, vulnerable learners and those completing essential exams or assessments. Special schools are open where possible.

Schools will open to primary school pupils in years 1-3 on 8 March.

Children in pre-school settings are also likely to return on 8 March, while pupils in years 12-14 in post-primary schools will return to class on 22 March.

However, pupils in years 4-7 in primaries and years 8-11 in post-primaries will not return to school before the Easter break at the start of April.

Vulnerable children and children of key workers can go to school, and special schools remain open.

In England, A-levels, AS levels and GCSE exams have been cancelled and teachers' estimated grades will be used instead.

Primary school SATs will not go ahead this year, nor will phonics or timetable testing.

Scotland's Higher and Advanced Higher exams have been cancelled for 2021, with final grades to be based on teacher assessment. The National 5 exams have also been cancelled.

The Welsh government has cancelled GCSEs, AS and A-levels. Grades were going to be based on classroom assessments instead but will now be determined by teachers, based on evidence such as mock exams and coursework.

In Northern Ireland, no GCSE, AS and A-level examinations will go ahead this year. Alternative arrangements will be announced soon.