SECONDARY school pupils will get an extra week at home after the Christmas break.
Only exam-year students, Year 11 and 13, will return to school following the Christmas break.
The remaining years will start the term online rather than in class.
It is hoped the staggered return to secondary schools in England will allow headteachers to rollout mass testing in the new year.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is due to make a written ministerial statement to the Commons later on Thursday.
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Primary school pupils will go back to school as normal in January, alongside exam-year students, vulnerable pupils and key workers’ children.
A No10 spokesperson said today: "The start of term won’t be delayed but we are asking secondary schools to take a staggered return, with online learning, with in-person teaching for all starting on 11 January."
The Education Secretary is set to give a full statement on the latest information this afternoon.
The announcement comes after a huge row between schools in London and the Department for Education this week.
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