Nearly one in five secondary schools were partly shut last week, mostly for Covid-related reasons, according to the latest data from the Department for Education.

Approximately 82 per cent of state-funded secondary schools were fully open on 1 October, down from 84 per cent on 24 September.

However, overall pupil attendance in secondaries increased from 84 per cent to 86 per cent.

Ofsted: Covid testing ‘barrier’ to schools staying open

Blended learning: Remote lessons, not aligned with curriculum, Ofsted finds

Comment: ‘Lack of empathy for vulnerable teachers is staggering’

According to the DfE, this may signal that self-isolating groups may be getting smaller.

The statement reads: “This suggests that, where groups of pupils are being asked to self-isolate, they are becoming smaller.”

At primary level, 95 per cent of state-funded schools were open, a similar proportion to the previous week, and attendance increased from 91 per cent to 93 per cent.

Overall, approximately 90 per cent of students were in attendance last week (up from 88 per cent) and 99.8 per cent of state-funded schools were open, the same as the week before.

Of the relatively small proportion of schools that were closed, this was “mostly due to Covid-19 related reasons,” the statement reads.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, pointed out that this is the second week of a downward trend in the number of fully open secondaries, meaning that numbers have fallen by 10 per cent since 17 September.

He said: “It reflects the extremely tough circumstances in which schools are operating due to the impact of Covid.

“We remain concerned that schools lack the support from the government that they need in this challenging task.”

He also referred to an Ofsted report released this morning showing that lack of Covid-testing options is seen as a barrier to keep schools open by many school leaders, while some report that guidance lacks clarity.

He explained: “Many said that they received conflicting information from different agencies, or from different parts of the same agency.

“These concerns chime with the reports that ASCL receives from school leaders. The government must redouble its efforts to improve the Covid testing system, and ensure that schools are supported by clear and consistent guidance.”