Secondary pupils may not return to schools until April with change to holidays possible

Youngsters could return to secondary schools in Dundee, Angus and Perthshire on April 19 and Fife on April 12.

If the emergence from lockdown goes as set out by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday, it will mean many have missed almost 12 weeks in the classroom.

Nursery and P1-3 pupils went back on Monday, along with a few senior secondary pupils who need to attend for practical coursework.

The government has said the impact of this first step will be closely monitored before it is confirmed as safe for the next groups of children and young people to follow.

Addressing the Scottish Parliament on the easing of lockdown restrictions, Ms Sturgeon said the next phase would “indicatively” be from March 15.

She said: “We hope that this will include the next phase of school return – which will start with the rest of the primary school years, 4 to 7, and also getting more senior phase secondary pupils back in the classroom for at least part of their learning.”

The aim is for a final phase of school return to take place from April 5.

More details will be given next week.

Asked by Conservative education spokesman Jamie Greene if holidays would be altered to allow pupils to return from April 5, Ms Sturgeon replied: “We will continue to consider how all this fits with Easter holidays but suffice to say we want to get every young person back into face-to-face education as quickly as possible.”

One independent Perthshire school has said it is shifting its holidays to allow pupils back to class sooner.

Kilgraston School head teacher Dorothy Macginty said: “In light of today’s FM statement, Kilgraston School has decided to finish four days earlier before Easter holidays and return five days earlier.”