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Scottish schools shut until at least August; Wales and Northern Ireland taking similar paths

The Scottish government and teachers do not expect schools to re-open before the start of the new academic year in August, while concerns also mount over the way exams will be graded during the coronavirus shutdown.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said Scotland would not be returning to “full-time, in-school learning for the foreseeable future”.

The union also said it would oppose any moves to bring forward the summer holiday dates so that schools could re-open earlier in August than normal.

“August seems to us to be the best date to ensure an ordered approach and to secure parent, pupil and staff confidence that schools are safe,” an EIS spokesman said.

In a statement made after British prime minister Boris Johnson announced that he wants schools in England to re-open to some year groups from June 1, Mr Flanagan also said that class sizes would have to be cut dramatically to comply with social distancing and other health guidelines.

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