All schools are set to reopen after the TT break - with the aim to get pupils in at least four key age groups back into the classroom this summer term.

Head teachers have been told that schools will reopen to staff from June 15 so they can prepare for the return of students.

Two days later, hundreds of children who have attended school hubs during the health emergency will go back to their own schools ahead of a phased return of year groups, starting with primary years two and six and secondary years 10 and 12.

Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson said: ’We are hoping to get the key groups back into school this academic year. Years 2, 6, 10 and 12 will be the first ones and we are working with teachers to try to bring other year groups as and when we can.’

He said the June 17 date was ’aspirational’ in so far as it is dependent on the health situation remaining stable and there being no resurgence of Covid cases.

But he said he could not give a date for the return of key age groups as there were ’so many variables’.

’We need to make sure the schools are set up for it and we have the staff for it,’ he said.

One issue will be that the requirements for social distancing will mean capacity in classrooms will be about 25%. Use of mobile classrooms and other venues is being considered.

But years 2, 6, 10 and 12 plus vulnerable students and those of key workers can be accommodated within the existing school buildings even with 25% capacity.

Dr Allinson said a lot of risk assessments had been done to see how schools can be made as safe as possible for staff and children. Staggering times for the school day and for meal and play times is one option.

He said the priority of his department was on the educational needs of the children rather than the economic needs of the island, and there was evidence that vulnerable children had been struggling at home during the lockdown.

One head teacher told the Manx Independent that there had been no real communication with schools except for three ’confusing and contradictory’ emails sent by the education department.

Director of education Geoff Moorcroft emailed the school heads on Monday to stress: ’I can’t emphasise enough that the date for reopening to pupils has not been decided.’

He said June 15 had been issued as an ’indicative’ date for when school sites could open to enable some advance planning.

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’As fas as the DESC is aware this will not be the date when schools are open to more pupils and advice has been offered at the highest level that any return should be staged, with sufficient time for schools to plan.’

Mr Moorcroft pointed out the health situation ’could change dramatically’ over the next few weeks and any date for further expansion of schools would need to be agreed by Ministers.

The Education Minister apologised if there had been any confusion, saying this was partly the result of mixed messages coming from the United Kingdom.

Most of the island’s schools were closed on March 23, with the exception of nine primary school hubs and the five secondary schools, which are ’hubs’ to cater for vulnerable children and those of key workers.

Children of construction, horticulture and trade workers were able to join the hubs from Monday this week. The number of children attending primary school hubs rose from 312 last Friday to 404 on Monday.

Earlier this month, the DESC issued a ’road map’ for the phased return of schools. But it has been dismissed as ’flawed and unworkable’ by the teaching unions who say they have not been consulted.

Dr Allinson said the teaching unions and head teachers were ’working constructively’ with the department.

The road map notes that for the near future there will be a minority of pupils who will not, or cannot, return to a school environment even with safety modifications. Some staff will also need to shield and continue to work from home.

Dr Allinson said: ’We are not forcing anyone to come back, they can come back when they feel safe to do so.’