Government launches 'Back to School' campaign

The government has launched its back to school and college campaign to set out the experience that students can get back to from September now that restrictions such as bubbles are eased.

Schools and colleges will keep protective measures such as testing, ventilation and extra hygiene precautions that help keep children and staff safe. Secondary schools and colleges are offering two tests on-site at the start of term, followed by continued regular testing at home. Students aged 16 and 17, as well as younger children aged 12-15 in certain eligible groups are encouraged to take up the offer of the vaccine.

The campaign features Matt Richards, gold medal-winning swimmer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, who draws on his own experience of regular covid testing as part of Team GB to encourage secondary and college students to continue testing from September.

The campaign also features Dr Ranj Singh, NHS consultant paediatrician and TV presenter who will reassure students and families about the return to school. Students and teachers appear across social, digital and radio adverts talking about everything they are looking forward to during the new school term.

Leaflets explaining more about the safety measures in place will be made available over the coming days.

Dr Ranj Singh, NHS consultant paediatrician and TV presenter said" "As Covid-19 becomes a virus we learn to live with, delivering face to face education, without disruption is vital to support our children’s mental and physical health and wellbeing. There is a low risk of coronavirus in children compared to other ages groups, and the benefits of education continue to outweigh the covid health risk to children and students."

For more information on the campaign, visit gov.uk/backtoschool