THERE is nervous optimism among teachers after it was announced schools are to reopen in less than a fortnight.

Boris Johnson revealed on Monday night pupils across the country will be back in the classroom for the first time in two months on Monday, March 8.

Under the prime minister's plan for lockdown easing, secondary school pupils will be tested for Covid-19 before lessons and must wear facemasks in some classes.

Headteacher of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Anita Ellis expressed her fears over rapid testing.

"Lateral flow tests will continue to be a challenge," she told BBC Radio Wiltshire.

"We’ve still got concerns about their accuracy and we’ve still got concerns about how we’re going to be able to deliver those in that first week. "

But she added: “We’re really looking forward to receiving our students and welcoming them back.

“As teachers we’re incredibly adaptable and we take on a challenge and we say ‘we’re going to do this’ and yes there are nerves, yes we are nervous about all coming back."

Students in secondary schools and colleges will be asked to use a lateral flow device when they return and if they test negative, they will be allowed to resume face-to-face classes.

After the initial testing of students in a supervised environment, parents, carers or the students themselves will carry out twice-weekly tests at home.

The use of facemasks will be reviewed again at Easter.

Despite repeated calls, teachers will not be vaccinated as a priority while the NHS continues to provide jabs to all over 50s.

Ms Ellis said: “We do have some reservations, particularly around the fact there are still no plans to vaccinate teachers and staff within schools – I’d like to see that happen as soon as possible.”

“I know that the risks are very much still there and we are very acutely aware those risks are very much still there for all concerned, particularly our staff and particularly our own staff.

“The fact is, we know we’ve been doing the right thing all through. I feel confident that we are prepared for this.”

Amy Stewart, a teacher in Swindon, told the Adver: “We all want things back to what we know, which is face-to-face teaching and learning, but I don’t understand why all school staff haven’t had the vaccine yet.”

We asked our readers if they backed the plan to have children return to school next month and most said they think all teaching staff should be vaccinated before that happened.

Last month education leaders also backed the idea of teaching staff being moved up the priority list after more than 500,000 people signed a petition for this move. 

Find out more at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554316