Gavin Williamson says the plans are part of "moving to a new phase of managing covid."
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The use of bubbles in schools will come to an end, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced today.
Speaking to the Commons, he said that while the current system had been important in halting the spread of the disease, it was time to make changes that didn’t force as much disruption on children’s learning.
There will also be an end to prevention of physical teaching in schools and universities, unless students are advised to stay home, or there are local outbreaks.
“We recognise that the system of bubbles and isolation is causing disruption to many children’s education. That is why we’ll be ending bubbles and transferring contact tracing to the NHS Test and Trace system for early years settings, schools and colleges.”
Mr Williamson told MPs: “I do not think it is acceptable that children should face greater restrictions over and above those of wider society, especially since they have given up so much to keep older generations safe during this pandemic.”
He said: “Where there are outbreaks schools and colleges may be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and they will also work with local health teams as they currently do now.
The change comes amid two other changes focusing on Test and Trace, also for the 16 August. Firstly, children will not need to self-isolate unless they themselves have tested positive for the virus. Adults will also not need to self-isolate if they have been double-jabbed.
NHS Test and Trace will now handle all outbreak notifications in schools.
The right decision for schools?
Shadow education secretary Kate Green pays tribute to education staff who have “done so much” to keep young people learning in the past year.
She said that many parents will be “relieved” at the end of the bubble system, but she says people will not be reassured that the system replacing it is going to work.
A bipartisan group of backbench Labour MPs led by Chair of the Education Committee Robert Halfon have called for an easing in exam difficulty following news that children have missed an estimated equivalent of one in every four school days.
Questions have also been raised about ventilation in schools, to decrease the spread of disease, alongside regular sanitisation.
This is a developing story, we will bring you more details as they come. Please refresh the page to update.
HeadlineSchools in England to end system of ‘bubbles’ for classes
Short HeadlineSchool bubbles to end this month
StandfirstThe news comes alongside new rules about contact tracing that include not pinging the double-jabbed.
The use of bubbles in schools will come to an end, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced today.
Speaking to the Commons, he said that while the current system had been important in halting the spread of the disease, it was time to make changes that didn’t force as much disruption on children’s learning.
There will also be an end to prevention of physical teaching in schools and universities, unless students are advised to stay home, or there are local outbreaks.
“We recognise that the system of bubbles and isolation is causing disruption to many children’s education. That is why we’ll be ending bubbles and transferring contact tracing to the NHS Test and Trace system for early years settings, schools and colleges.”
Mr Williamson told MPs: “I do not think it is acceptable that children should face greater restrictions over and above those of wider society, especially since they have given up so much to keep older generations safe during this pandemic.”
He said: “Where there are outbreaks schools and colleges may be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and they will also work with local health teams as they currently do now.
The change comes amid two other changes focusing on Test and Trace, also for the 16 August. Firstly, children will not need to self-isolate unless they themselves have tested positive for the virus. Adults will also not need to self-isolate if they have been double-jabbed.
NHS Test and Trace will now handle all outbreak notifications in schools.
The right decision for schools?
Shadow education secretary Kate Green pays tribute to education staff who have “done so much” to keep young people learning in the past year.
She said that many parents will be “relieved” at the end of the bubble system, but she says people will not be reassured that the system replacing it is going to work.
A bipartisan group of backbench Labour MPs led by Chair of the Education Committee Robert Halfon have called for an easing in exam difficulty following news that children have missed an estimated equivalent of one in every four school days.
Questions have also been raised about ventilation in schools, to decrease the spread of disease, alongside regular sanitisation.
As it's revealed that more than half of UK school children spend at least three hours a day on screens outside of school, a London teacher has questioned whether restricting social media would reduce overall screen time.
