A large majority of pupils - at least 85 per cent - attended last week when all were due back in school for the first time after lockdown, new figures published today reveal.

In secondaries, where phased starts were permitted to allow testing to take place, last week got off to a slow start, with just 31 per cent in on Monday 8 March.

But that rose to more than half - 51 per cent - last Tuesday, climbed to 85 per cent on Friday and had reached 89 per cent yesterday. 

However headteachers are warning of a “bumpy” road ahead as positive Covid cases force self-isolation.

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Primary school attendance last week was 96 per cent between Monday and Wednesday, but dropped to 95 per cent on Friday and 94 per cent yesterday.

Attendance in state-funded special schools was 83 per cent by Thursday, up from 47 per cent the previous week.

The attendance figures could be explained, in part, by phased returns, which resulted in 2 per cent of students not being in school yesterday.

The Department for Education figures show that 99.9 per cent of schools were open by Thursday. 

They also include the estimate that 1 per cent of teachers and 1 per cent of support staff in open state schools were absent owing to Covid on Thursday.

Geoff Barton, Association of School and College Leaders general secretary, said: “We are delighted to see very high levels of attendance in schools as they fully reopened following the lockdown.

“Secondary schools have put in a Herculean effort to provide on-site Covid tests to returning pupils and deserve huge credit for setting up what are, essentially, medical facilities. They did this with very little help or support from the government.

“However, we must sound a note of caution over what attendance levels will look like for what remains of this term because we are picking up reports of positive Covid cases and close contacts having to be sent home to self-isolate.

“It will continue to be bumpy and we are not out of the woods yet.” 

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I do not underestimate the preparation that has taken place to ensure our children could return safely and continue with their education, and I am so grateful to the teachers and school staff who have made the transition so seamless - as well as managing testing and maintaining all the wider protective measures still in place to help keep everyone safe.”