The return to school after the Christmas holidays has been delayed for secondary students, the education secretary has announced.

Students who are due to sit exams this year will return on 11 January, with others returning a week later.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Gavin Williams said the majority of primary schools will reopen as normal on Monday (4 January), with some exceptions for those in areas of high infection.

The children of key workers will be able to return as normal.

The government plans to use the delay in order to implement mass testing for school students across England.

Reacting to the news, Manny Botwe, the headteacher of the Tytherington School told Nub News the government have been slow to release details on the testing program.

He said: "We're disappointed not to be opening the school, but this is an area where we have to be following the science.

"We are awaiting more guidance on the mass testing, but information about it is thin on the ground."

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Mr Botwe said there is "no shortage of will" among school staff and the government needs to put the resources in place to allow the testing program to succeed.

Addressing parents, the Tytherington head said: "In terms of remote learning, we're ready to go from Tuesday, with Monday as an inset day. We will have a full remote timetable in place in time for the students return."