Lockdown: Schools in Scotland to reopen this month

2 February 2021

Schools in Scotland will begin reopening in February.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that children in P1-P3 and pre-school will likely return to school full-time from 22 February.

She also mentioned that secondary school pupils could also return, but on a part-time, very limited basis, to allow them to complete work for national qualifications.

Ms Sturgeon said she wanted to see children back in full-time, face to face education as soon as possible.

When are UK schools hoping to reopen?

How to boss remote learning

PA Media

Only between 5% and 8% of a secondary school's pupils would be able to be present at any one time.

Scotland's current lockdown restrictions will stay in place until at least the end of the month, but Ms Sturgeon said she was "cautiously optimistic" that some gradual easing of the rules could be possible from early March.

She also announced that with the reopening of schools on its way, there would be a "significant expansion" of Covid-19 testing in schools and nurseries in the next few weeks.

The First Minister also said that this plan would only happen, if the spread of coronavirus could be controlled.

A final decision on the partial reopening of schools will be made in a fortnight.

When are schools due to reopen?

ENGLAND: Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that schools in England would stay closed until at least 8 March.
WALES: First Minister Mark Drakeford has said that some schools could return after Februry half-term if the coronavirus infection rates falls.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Schools in Northern Ireland are closed until after the half-term break in mid-February.