HUNDREDS of Year 10 and 12 pupils are returning to school today after weeks of learning at home because of lockdown.

Teachers are juggling the responsibilities of their home learning lessons with providing work for the year groups allowed to return to the classroom.

Until today, only vulnerable children and those of key workers have been taught inside secondary schools.

Lydiard Park Academy headteacher Gary Pearson said that 20 per cent of his school’s Year 10s will be in class on each day of the week while Year 12s will only visit for subject-specific lessons.

A video on the academy’s website advises pupils and parents on what to expect from the start of the school day to the end.

This includes where to have their temperature checked and hands sanitised, be briefed on health and safety rules, directed to their classrooms and use the Xs on the floor as a guide to keep two metres apart.

Other schools around the town will be implementing similar safety measures.

More than 130 Kingsdown School Year 10 pupils ‘signed up’ to come back, with no more than 22 in school on any given day.

Headteacher Emma Bennett said: “We’ve been open for nine weeks and put safeguarding measures in place right at the start to keep everyone safe.

“There’s a robust risk assessment, everything’s ready for a smooth start and we're looking forward to seeing these students again.

“Our home-learning programme will be continuing, with pre-learning for A-levels and BTECs for our Year 11s who had to leave school very suddenly.”

Ridgeway School and Sixth Form headteacher James Povoas said: “It’s all about ensuring that risks are managed and that staff and students are safe.

“We will have at most 85 students in school each day – around 25 pupils from key workers’ families and up to 60 Year 10s and 12s, while the other 1,510 continue home learning.

“We can fit 10 students safely in each classroom, so teaching a class of 30 requires three times the amount of staff and space.

“Pastoral tutors will ask those who do come in questions to see how they’re coping and what help they need, it’s an extra level of support

“The majority of our Year 12s have video-call lessons which have been well received and we’ve rolled this out to Year 10s.”