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by Jack Thomson
02 March 2021
All pupils set to be in school full-time after Easter holidays

Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA Wire/PA Images

All pupils set to be in school full-time after Easter holidays

The First Minister has confirmed all children in primary four to seven will return to school full-time from March 15 unless new evidence forces the Scottish Government to reconsider the move.

Nicola Sturgeon said the next steps in a phased return to secondary school will be taken from that date, with a "clear expectation" that all pupils will be back in the classroom full-time following the Easter holidays.

It is the intention that all high school pupils will return to spend some time in school from 15 March until the break, with students in S4 to S6 given priority for face-to-face lessons.

Sturgeon said: "Although years four to six may have priority, we expect all children in secondary school will receive some in-school education each week up until the Easter break and then return full-time following that.

"This will allow pupils to get used to being back in school and allow them to start seeing friends again, and I'm sure everyone will agree that this is important for the wellbeing of young people, as well as for education."

Ahead of her update on education, Sturgeon said next week - when she updates parliament on the government's route map - she hoped to be able to confirm some changes to level four restrictions.

Between now and then, in light of more positive data in relation to COVID-19, the First Minister said the government will be considering whether it's possible to "accelerate the exit from lockdown in any way".

It was revealed 542 people have tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours. There are 784 people in hospital confirmed to have COVID-19 of whom are receiving treatment in intensive care. Another 33 people have died.

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