WITH pupils set to return to the classrooms from today - we ask, do you think it is a good idea?

Boris Johnson has said that schools 'remain safe' and urged parents to send their children back to school where they are open.

Last week education secretary Gavin Williamson told MPs that closing schools was a 'last resort' because of how 'vitally important' face-to-face learning is for 'education, wellbeing and wider development'. 

But the start of term has been delayed at schools across the county and in areas where the new coronavirus variant is spreading rapidly. 

With Oxfordshire under Tier 4 restrictions and growing calls for a national lockdown - do you think schools should reopen? 

A timeline of when schools will be reopening: 

  • 'Majority' of primary schools will open on January 4
  • In a 'small' number of areas, where infection rates are highest, primary school pupils will only go in to school if they are vulnerable or a child of a key worker 
  • All pupils in exam years will return to secondary schools in England from January 11 
  • The rest of secondary and college students will go back full-time on January 18
  • Universities are being asked to reduce the number of students coming back next week