The NSW Government has confirmed there will be a staggered return to face-to-face learning from October, with the HSC exams delayed until November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vaccinations from school staff will also be made mandatory under the plan announced by the NSW Government today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the plan, the HSC has been delayed until November 9 and there will be a staggered return of students to face-to-face learning will begin on Monday, October 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students will return to face-to-face learning with NSW Health approved COVID safe settings on school sites in the following order:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Year 12 students are already able to return in a limited way and this will continue for the remainder of Term 3. From 25 October, Year 12 will have full time access to school campuses and their teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if stay at home orders are lifted in an LGA or region before 25 October, all students living or learning in that area will return to face to face learning under the Department\u2019s COVID-safe schools framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NSW Government has indicated that if cases in certain LGAs increase significantly, learning from home will resume for that LGA until case numbers drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has advised there will be some restrictions in place in schools. These will include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On this, Ms Mitchell said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will return to our level three COVID restriction settings with all school principals aware of that, [they have been] in place for some time.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
As for the HSC, it will be delayed until 9 November with a revised timetable and guidelines for a COVID-safe HSC to be released by NESA in early September. Importantly, the delay of the HSC exams will not disadvantage NSW students when applying to university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NSW Government also confirmed that vaccinations for all school staff across all sectors will be mandatory from November 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early childcare staff will also be able to participate in the priority vaccinations from September 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the NSW Government, all school and early childcare staff are also encouraged to make use of the GP network to be vaccinated with whatever vaccine is available as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have based this advice on a recent survey of the public school workforce indicated the majority of staff already had at least one dose of a vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a developing story. More to come. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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