Coronavirus: Schools around the UK to close

Plans to shut schools across England, Wales and Scotland have been announced, while leaders in Northern Ireland say pupils will have an "extended period of remote learning".

The aim is to help stop the spread of the coronavirus after a rise in cases across the UK and to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed.

There are slightly different measures in different parts of the UK.

Here's everything you need to know.

What's happening with schools in England?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a new lockdown for England, which includes all schools shutting from Tuesday 5 January until February half-term at least.

Schools will stay open for children of key workers and vulnerable young people.

Most primary schools in England reopened on Monday 4 January, with others staying closed in certain areas. Some teachers, headteachers and parents weren't happy with the decision and wanted all schools shutting.

Most pupils will be studying from home for the rest of this half term

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said older students would have a staggered return to school, with all secondary and college pupils returning full-time on the 18 January.

To those who questioned why some schools opened on 4 January, Mr Johnson said it was because "we've been doing everything in our power to keep schools open. We know how important each day in education is to children's life chances".

He reiterated that schools are safe for children and that children are "still very unlikely to be severely affected, even by the new variant".

The PM also said that there will be support in place for pupils who have free school meals.

Mr Johnson added that it is "not possible or fair" for exams, such as GCSEs and A-Levels, to go ahead as planned this summer and that "alternative arrangements" will be put in place.

What's happening with schools in Scotland?

Students in Scotland aren't expected to return to the classroom until 1 Febraury

New lockdown rules come into force in Scotland from Tuesday 5 January until the end of the month.

Under the new restrictions, remote learning has been extended to 1 February.

The Scottish government had previously announced that pupils would go back to school from the 18 January following a week of online learning.

The new rules, which will be reviewed on 18 January, apply to all nursery, primary and secondary schools, however, vulnerable children and those whose parents or guardians are key workers will not be affected.

What's happening with schools in Wales?

Wales has had tougher rules since 20 December when it went into a national lockdown.

Originally, there was meant to be a phased return for pupils, with some schools due to open on Wednesday and others by 11 January - local authorities had some flexibility about start dates.

But now all schools in Wales will move to online learning until 18 January.

Schools will still be open for children who are vulnerable or whose parents are key workers, as well as students who need to complete essential exams or assessments.

What's happening with schools in Northern Ireland?

In Northern Ireland, leaders had planned for primary school pupils to be taught online until 11 January, but they've now confirmed that nursery, primary and secondary schools will remain shut until after the February half-term. However, special schools will stay open.

This month's transfer tests in Northern Ireland, used by many grammar schools to select pupils, were cancelled. The first test was due to take place on Saturday. AQE, which is one of the organisations that runs the exams, has now said it'll be holding a single test on 27 February.

Government ministers have also decided that all GCSE, AS and A-level examinations in Northern Ireland will not go ahead this year. However, it's not yet known what alternative arrangements will be put in place.