Gavin Williamson SCRAPS school bubbles from August 16 following clamour of parents and MPs

SCHOOL bubbles will be scrapped in time for the new school year after another 640,000 children were forced to isolate last week.

Nearly one in 12 state school pupils did not attend classes last week after coming into contact with a fellow student who tested positive.

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That was up 384,000 on the previous week, plunging schools across the country into disarray.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced last night bubbles would be replaced by focused testing and contact tracing from August 16.

Under current guidance, children have to self-isolate for ten days if another pupil in their bubble — which can be an entire year group — tests positive.

Schools will be able to continue with that system for the rest of term if they wish but the legal requirement will end before September.

Instead, NHS Test and Trace will carry out contact tracing on pupils rather than the school or college working out who is at risk.

The Education Sec also announced...

• Schools will no longer need to stagger start and finish times
• Kids will no longer need to wear masks in communal areas
• Children will be contacted by Test and Trace, informed they've been in contact with a positive case, and advised to take a PCR test
• Social distancing measures will end in schools
• Fully vaccinated teachers will be able to remain in the classroom, from the autumn term

Mr Williamson told MPs: “Keeping children in consistent groups was essential to control the spread of the virus when our population was less vaccinated.

“We recognise that the system of bubbles and isolation is causing disruption to many children’s education.

“That is why we’ll be ending bubbles.”

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Mr Williamson added it would not be necessary to stagger start and finish times at schools.

But the Education Secretary said some protective measures — such as enhanced hygiene and ventilation — would stay in place in schools for the autumn term.