Devon County Council schools have reported a 94 per cent pupil attendance this week, following a staggered start to the new term. Prior to Christmas, pupil attendance was around 90 per cent.
All our schools reopened this week, with many secondaries providing on-site testing for pupils ahead of the term start.
Our schools have encouraged the wearing of face coverings in communal areas since last summer due to the high number of positive cases, but now, the national guidance expects secondary school pupils to wear them in the classroom as well, unless exempt.
Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, said:
“I want to thank pupils and parents for their continued support in helping to follow the national guidance, to help contain the spread of the virus.
“With schools back this week, and with the highly infectious Omicron variant getting a stronger foothold in Devon, we expect case rates to rise over coming weeks.
“I ask that pupils continue to wear face coverings in the classroom, as well as in communal areas, and to keep up with the regular lateral flow tests when showing no symptoms.
“We are continuing to work very closely with our schools and colleges, especially where we see outbreaks, to help reduce risk to pupils and staff.”
