Plans for Scottish schools to 'reopen in August and teachers to return in June'

Children could be taught partly in school and partly at home.
The children of key-workers comply with social distancing rules while attending a hub school for Edinburgh city centre pupils at Drummond Community High School, Edinburgh.The children of key-workers comply with social distancing rules while attending a hub school for Edinburgh city centre pupils at Drummond Community High School, Edinburgh.
The children of key-workers comply with social distancing rules while attending a hub school for Edinburgh city centre pupils at Drummond Community High School, Edinburgh.

Pupils in Scotland could return to school on August 11 if plans drawn up by a Scottish Government group are followed by the First Minister.

The Daily Record reports that under a ‘blended system’, children could return to school by spending half of their time in class and half at home, with teachers returning in June to help prepare.

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The plans are being put forward by the Education Recovery Group, led by Education Secretary John Swinney and other experts.

It comes as schools in England prepare for a return of students from June 1, despite criticism and opposition from teaching unions.

Reports from the Daily Record states that teachers and other school staff would return to school in June to work on the new ‘blended system’ including a split between in-school and in-home learning.

Almost all pupils will be taught under this plan if it is put into practice.

The size of schools and the number of staff could also increase to help aid social distancing, and those transitioning into primary or secondary education could be given early access to schools from as early as next month.

The Daily Record reports the plans are dependent on scientific and medical advice, the availability of PPE for staff and the effective roll out of the ‘test, trace and isolate’ strategy planned by the Scottish Government.

A Scottish Government spokesman told the Daily Record that an announcement would be made about easing lockdown measures on Thursday, as announced by the First Minister on Monday.

They said: “Thursday’s route-map will also set out our up to date assessment at that point of a phased return to school, as guided by the considerations of the Education Recovery Group.”

When asked about the possibility of schools opening on August 11 and teachers returning in June, Ms Sturgeon stressed it was a "decision not made" yet, during Tuesday's daily briefing.

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