Pupils could be placed into ‘year bubbles’ under new plans for when children return to the classroom in September.

Secondary schools could see entire year groups of up to 240 pupils placed into bubbles to limit interactions with other age groups. Primary schools have currently capped class sizes at 15 pupils but this could be doubled to 30, according to draft government proposals seen by HuffPost.

Staggered start and finish times are set to be implemented along with strict measures to separate pupils during break times, suggest reports. Pupils will also be told to sit at desks facing forwards in the same direction, rather than at circular tables.

It is understood that officials are also looking into a greater focus on core subjects such as maths and English to help pupils catch up following home learning, while a full curriculum may not be possible until the next summer term, according to reports.

Compulsory engagement with the NHS Test and Trace system will also be announced, while entire year groups or classes could be sent home if a pupil tests positive.

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Some proposals also include no social distancing among primary school children but secondary school pupils are advised to keep at least 1 metre apart.

Teachers are also set to be advised to keep 2 metres away from pupils, and remain at the front of the class for most of the class, reports suggest, while they must not spend more than 15 minutes with anyone at less than a 1 metre distance.

It comes after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced earlier that the return to school will be ‘compulsory’ and fines may be issued to parents who do not send their children to the classroom. According to the government report, parents could face fines of up to £120.

Mr Williamson is due to announce the final plans for reopening schools more widely to children on Thursday this week.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Williamson suggested the full return to school in September would not rely on social distancing restrictions in the same way as in pubs and shops.

‘It’s not about one metre, it’s not about two metres,’ he told BBC Breakfast, saying that safety would be based on ‘reducing the number of transmission points’ within schools.

General secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, Geoff Barton, said a full return to schools in the autumn has to be done in a way that does not spark a new wave of coronavirus infections.

He said: ‘That is what the Government guidance is aimed at achieving. The processes involved are logistically problematic, so this is going to be the art of the possible, rather than an ideal solution.

‘We are urging the Government to have a plan B in place in the event that we arrive at September and the situation with coronavirus is too precarious to allow a full reopening.

‘Frankly, it seems to be on a knife-edge at the moment.’

A Department for Education spokesperson said: ‘Pupils have been returning to school since June 1 – we’ve already given primary schools the flexibility to invite more children back if they have the capacity, and 1.5 million children were in school at the end of last week.

‘We’ve said we want to see all children back at school in September – returning to full primary and secondary class sizes in a safe way.

‘We continue to engage with school leaders, teaching unions and the wider sector about our plans and will publish full details later this week.’

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