On Air Now Nick Osborne 10:00am - 3:00pm Fatboy Slim - Praise You Schedule

Isle Of Wight Lockdown: Schools Closed And Exams Won't Go Ahead As Normal

The majority of schools will close tomorrow (Tuesday) and exams will not go ahead as normal this year, the Prime Minister has confirmed.

Boris Johnson has announced a new nationwide lockdown which could last until March at the earliest.

It means people will have to stay at home, to stop the spread of a new variant of coronavirus.

Schools, including primary, secondary and colleges, will shut for most children from tomorrow until February at the earliest.

They will remain open for children of key workers or those who are vulnerable, however.

The Prime Minister failed to mention what would happen to university courses.

However, nurseries can remain open while childcare and support bubbles will stay in place. Further information on exams is also expected in due course.

Mr Johnson said:

"Primary and secondary schools and colleges across England must move to remote provision from tomorrow, except for vulnerable children or children of key workers.

"We recognise this means it is not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead as normal this summer. The Education Secretary will work with Ofqual. We will provide extra support for pupils entitled to free school meals.

"I understand the inconvenience and distress this will call millions of people across the country."

Mr Johnson words comes on the day when teaching unions called for schools to shut.

A number of Isle of Wight primaries have only partially reopened today due to staff shortages.

The PM insisted schools were safe to remain open, however.

Speaking tonight, he said:

"We have been doing everything in our power to keep schools open and I want to stress the problem is not that schools are unsafe, it is that they may act as vectors for transmission."

More follows.

More from Isle of Wight News