Guernsey's schools, college and early years providers to re-open

Young people in Guernsey can return to school, college and early years providers from today (Monday 8 March).

The re-opening of schools will align with the island moving to Stage 2 of the exit from lockdown framework.

Secondary school students will be split and return over two days, with Years 7, 8 and 9 returning on Monday while Year 10 and upwards will return on Tuesday 9 March.

This is to allow younger students time to familiarise themselves with the introduction of their new class bubbles, before older students return.

Safety measures

  • Classroom bubbles for primary schools and Years 7-9 in Secondary, with year-group bubbles for older students

  • The recommended use of face-coverings for older students and staff

  • One-metre social distancing, wherever this is possible

  • Staggered start and finish times

  • Enhanced cleaning regime for education settings

  • Limited school transport service to minimise contact between students

  • A specific Public Health testing strategy for staff in education, as well of for some students.

Testing requirements

All staff including early year providers can get tested prior to these settings re-opening.

Workforce testing for staff and ongoing screening for groups of students in older year groups will be carried out.

Preparing for return to school

Education settings will continue to provide childcare and supervision for the children of essential workers (where both parents are classed as essential) and those who are considered vulnerable.

The decision to take this step out of lockdown was made by the Civil Contingencies Authority, the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture and Public Health Services.

The President of the Committee for Education says the Distanced Learning programme which has been provided by schools has successfully catered for all of the island's 9,000 plus students - and has thank staff for their "immense efforts during the lockdown to deliver this".

Meanwhile the island's Director of Public Health says "while nothing is ever entirely risk free, we believe that with the right mitigations in place we can safely re-open schools and other education providers".

Guernsey's Chief Minister has also welcomed the announcement saying it is a "very positive step and evidence of the huge strides we have made as a community since going into lockdown".

Details have been published on the States of Guernsey website to help parents and young people understand how education will ‘look and feel’ when students return.