Boris Johnson said he hopes schools will reopen on Monday 8 March during Prime Minister’s Questions today.
Schools were closed this term on 5 January amid safety concerns regarding the new strain of coronavirus, and first closed for the pandemic on 23 March last year during the first national lockdown.
Johnson said: “If we achieve our target of vaccinating everyone in the four most vulnerable groups with their first dose by 15 February and every passing day see more progress towards that goal, then those groups will have developed immunity from the virus about three weeks later.
“We hope it will therefore be safe to begin the reopening of schools from Monday 8 March.”
The Prime Minister stressed that the Government is trying to be sensible in their approach to schools reopening, but said he is confident they will deliver on their 15 February vaccination pledge.
The news comes after Schools Minister Nick Gibb told the Commons yesterday that the Government has a strong desire to open places of study as soon as possible.
Schools are currently open for vulnerable children and children of key workers.
Featured image credit: Stephen Lock
