The Northumberland primary schools remaining closed as covid cases worsen in UK

The Government's Covid-19 regulations mean that the county's secondary and high school students are not returning this week - except those with special needs and children of key workers, but first and primary pupils as well as Years 5 and 6 at middle schools are due to be back in.

However, there have been concerns raised by teaching unions nationally, while there are also reports of staffing issues at some schools, which means that at least 25 primary, first and middle schools are not reopening immediately.

Alnwick Partnership

Two of Alnwick's three primary schools are keeping their doors shut with St Michael's CofE closed for two weeks from today (Monday, January 4) and Swansfield Park only open to children of key workers and vulnerable pupils.

Whittingham CofE Primary School is closed until further notice.

Amble

Amble First School is closed for two weeks, from its planned return date of Tuesday, January 5.

Warkworth C of E Primary School is only open to children of key workers and vulnerable pupils from Tuesday, January 5, until Thursday, January 7.

Berwick

St Cuthbert’s RC VA First School (from Monday, January 4) and Tweedmouth Prior Park First School (from Tuesday, January 5, for two weeks) are only open to children of key workers and vulnerable pupils, while Tweedmouth Middle School is fully closed from Tuesday, January 5.

Morpeth

Rothbury First School is is only open to children of key workers and vulnerable pupils from Tuesday, January 5, at least until the end of the week.

South-east Northumberland

Bedlington Station Primary School is only open to children of key workers and vulnerable pupils (for at least two weeks), as is St Aidan's RC Voluntary Aided Primary School in Blyth (until further notice), New Hartley First School (until January 18), Holywell Village First School, and Burnside Primary School in Cramlington.

Newsham Primary School in Blyth is closed to all pupils today (Monday, January 4) with an update on the plans moving forward to follow.

NCEA Bishop's Primary and NCEA Castle School in Ashington are both closed from Tuesday, January 5, until Thursday, January 7.

West Northumberland

Beaufront First School in Hexham is closed today (Monday, January 4) awaiting further information.

Broomley First School is only open to children of key workers and vulnerable pupils from Tuesday, January 5, as is Highfield Middle School in Prudhoe, Prudhoe Castle First School, Ovingham CofE First School, Ovingham Middle School, Whittonstall First School and Wylam First School.

Council 'will support schools that feel unable to open'

In a statement issued yesterday (Sunday, January 3), Northumberland County Council's executive director of children's services, Cath McEvoy-Carr, said: "Our schools also have robust risk assessments and health and safety measures in place and have done absolutely everything in their power to ensure the safety of pupils and staff."

But she added: "These are very challenging times for everyone, and some difficult decisions have to be made. We have every confidence in our headteachers and governing bodies to make the right decisions for their school community and will of course support any Northumberland school that feels unable to open due to their local risk assessment and staff availability."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that parents should send children to primary school if they are open, saying that there was 'no doubt in my mind that schools are safe', and that the risk to children was 'very, very low' with the benefit of education 'so huge'.

Exam year students at secondary and high schools (Years 11 and 13) are due to return on Monday, January 11, while the other year groups are set to be back the following week - Monday, January 18.

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