Secondary schools prepare to welcome back more pupils

Secondary schools in the region are preparing to welcome back more pupils next week.

Most will concentrate on year 10 and 12 students, while online learning continues for other groups.

Advantage Schools, a trust which runs Elstow School and Bedford Free School, says it will be opening up for year 10 first. It doesn't take year 12 pupils.

The trust wanted to welcome back all year 10s quickly but government guidance advises only taking smaller numbers to avoid large groups of older children congregating outside school.

Bedford Free School say they've always welcomed the guidance from the government and are happy to follow it to keep pupils safe. The school has plans in place to open more widely once allowed to do so. Stuart Lock says it will always be safety first for teachers and children at the schools.

It's a similar picture at East Norfolk Sixth Form College in Gorleston in Norfolk.