2020 United Kingdom education shutdown


In March 2020, schools, nurseries and collages in the United Kingdom were shut down in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. By 20 March, all schools in the UK had closed to all children except those of key workers and children considered vulnerable.
Education in the United Kingdom is separated into four systems: the UK Government is responsible for England whilst the administration of education in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is devolved to the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, respectively.

Timeline

Late February to mid-March – individual closures

Following cases in Italy, the Cransley School in Northwich, Cheshire, and Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough closed, as some of their pupils had returned with symptoms from Italy. Fourteen schools in England had closed by 28 February. Loughborough University reported a student confirmed to have the virus after recent travel to Italy, and indicated that several staff members and students began self-isolation.

Mid-March – nationwide shutdown

On 18 March, the Welsh government announced that all schools in Wales would be closing by 20 March. On the same day, the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon announced that Scottish schools would also be closing from 20 March, and may not reopen before the summer. Later that day, it was announced that schools in Northern Ireland would close to pupils immediately and to staff on 20 March. Shortly thereafter, the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson announced that schools in England would close from 20 March for an unspecified length of time. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that schools would still look after the children of key workers, and vulnerable children, and for England the Department for Education published guidance on eligibility on 19 March.
The Coronavirus Act 2020, which came into force on 25 March, gave the relevant ministers and departments across the UK powers to shut educational institutions and childcare premises.
The UK government also announced that GCSE and A Level exams were to be cancelled, an unprecedented action in UK educational history, and that grades were to be given out based on predicted grades and teacher assessment.

June to September – reopening

in England began to open more widely on 1 June, beginning with nursery classes and children in the year groups Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, although many schools and local councils delayed until after this date. It was planned that all primary-age pupils would be back in school by the end of June, but on 9 June the government announced that primary schools would not reopen further to other year groups due to concerns on the impact this could have on the rate of infection. Instead, most primary school children are not expected to be back in classes till September, six months after schools closed.
Secondary schools in England reopened for year groups 10 and 12 from 15 June. However, schools had been instructed to continue to primarily educate young people in these age groups at home, and to keep face-to-face lessons to a minimum. School attendance would not be compulsory for pupils, regardless of whether they have a place available or not, until the start of the new academic year.
Meanwhile, schools in Wales reopened on 29 June, and although all year groups returned, until the summer holidays attendance was non-compulsory and part-time. In the new academic year schools will be reopening at full capacity with some changes to ensure social distancing remains in place. Scottish schools will not be reopening until 11 August; it was at first intended that they would operate a "blended model" of part-time study at school and at home, though it was later decided that schools would aim to open full-time as soon as they returned. Northern Irish schools will be reopening for "key cohorts" in August, and for others in September.

Universities

was criticised for their incoherent response to the pandemic which required international students and staff to make arrangements to return home with only two days' notice. On 13 March, students and staff were advised that international travel was discouraged and university facilities would stay open at reduced capacity. On 18 March, Vice Chancellor Stephen Toope announced a sudden U-turn: all university buildings would be indefinitely shut to staff and students from the afternoon of Friday 20 March, and all students were strongly encouraged to leave Cambridge. The president of Cambridge UCU criticised this sudden shutdown, saying it would exacerbate the pandemic as students from countries with weaker healthcare provisions were forced to return home.
Over a thousand Cambridge students signed an open letter requesting to have multiple assessment options in lieu of the cancelled examinations, including the option to retake part or all of the academic year in 2020–21.
Coventry University first suspended graduation ceremonies due to be held in March and April, and from 20 March, suspended all face-to-face teaching, in favour of on-line delivery. Other higher education institutions took similar steps around the same time. Many students from overseas, who could not afford to travel or found their flights cancelled, were unable to return home.