An education union has warned the start of the new academic year will “almost certainly” prompt a rise in Covid cases as tens of thousands of pupils are reported to be facing a delay in returning to class.
The reopening of secondary schools is reported to be delayed in parts of England as headteachers call for millions of teenagers to be tested for coronavirus on-site.
The Department of Education confirmed that schools will be allowed to stagger their start dates so pupils can be tested twice, according to the Sunday Times.
It comes as the Government said carbon dioxide monitors are to be provided to state-funded schools in England to help staff tackle poor ventilation and reduce the spread of the virus.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said the monitors were a “welcome first step” in accepting that good ventilation is needed in schools.
He said: “The new school year and college terms will almost certainly prompt an uptick in case counts nationally. Current levels already match where we were in December 2020.
“To counter a…
