
All schools in England will close on Friday along with those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in the UK.

Boris Johnson announced the bombshell move this evening and said that when school gates shut at the end of the week they will not reopen for the foreseeable future.

However, a skeleton operation will be kept in place across the country so that the children of key workers - including NHS staff, police officers and supermarket delivery drivers - can be looked after and enable their parents to continue to work.

There was confusion this evening over which professions will be classed as key workers with a full list expected to be published tomorrow and over how they will prove their status to schools.

As Mr Johnson finally announced schools would shut after a number of European countries including France had already sent pupils home, the PM also said GCSE and A Level exams planned for May and June will be cancelled while nurseries and private schools have also been told to close.

Mr Johnson's announcement - confirmed by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson in a statement to the House of Commons at the same time as the PM's daily coronavirus press conference - came after the other three Home Nations had already committed to closures.

The number of positive tests for coronavirus in the UK today hit 2,626 while the death toll jumped overnight by 33 to a total of 104.

Boris Johnson inside Number 10 tonight announcing that all schools in England are to be closed as of Friday, following the lead of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The Welsh government had said earlier all of its schools will close on Friday while Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, said her country would be doing the same amid claims up to 20 per cent of teachers are in self-isolation.

Ms Sturgeon had already suggested parents are in for the long haul on school closures as she said she could not 'promise that they will reopen before the summer holidays'.

News of Northern Ireland shutting its schools emerged immediately before Mr Williamson and Mr Johnson announced their plans for education provision in England.

Mr Johnson was under huge pressure to follow the lead of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and he said this evening it was now the 'right moment' for English schools to shut 'for the vast majority of pupils until further notice' and that the 'objective is to slow the spread of the virus'.

'But of course we also need to keep the NHS going and to treat the rising number of cases so we need health workers who are also parents to continue to go to work and we need other critical workers with children to keep doing their jobs too,' he said.

The PM committed to providing children who receive free school meals with food vouchers to ensure families are not left struggling while on the exam issue, he said tests will 'not take place as planned' but pupils 'will get the qualifications they need and deserve'.

It was not immediately clear this evening how pupils affected by the exam cancellations will have their academic performance assessed.

As well as fears about an impact on staff levels in key services, the government had also been reluctant to proceed with school closures because of concerns shutting classrooms could lead to elderly grandparents being asked to look after grandchildren while parents continue to work.

The over-70s are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus and have been urged to avoid all non-essential social contact.

Mr Johnson was unequivocal on the matter as he said 'children should not be left with older grandparents, or older relatives, who may be particularly vulnerable or fall into some of the vulnerable groups'.

The move to close schools came as the government vowed to increase coronavirus testing in NHS hospitals in order to get a better picture of the scale of the outbreak.

Meanwhile, leading supermarkets introduced forms of rationing to try to stop unnecessary panic buying. There are now calls for ministers to impose a single policy on all stores.

Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, set out the bombshell plans to the House of Commons at the same time as Mr Johnson addressed the nation during his now daily coronavirus press conference

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, said she could not make any promises about when schools will be able to reopen

On another day of major developments in the coronavirus outbreak:

The number of confirmed cases of the disease worldwide hit 200,000 while the death toll stood at an estimated 8,000.

In the UK some 56,221 people have been tested with 53,595 negative and 2,626 positive.

The UK death toll currently stands at 104 after an increase of 33 overnight.

Mr Johnson said the number of daily tests in NHS hospitals will increase from 5,000 to 25,000 and staff will be prioritised.

Sainsbury's announced customers will only be able to buy a maximum of three of any grocery products and two of the most popular products like toilet paper.

Boris Johnson finally steps up UK testing for coronavirus Boris Johnson finally vowed a dramatic escalation of the UK's coronavirus testing capacity today amid fury at his attempts to fight the epidemic 'blindfolded'. After days of intense pressure, the PM said the number of tests carried out per day will be increased from the current level of around 5,000 to 25,000, and NHS staff will be prioritised. However, the full 'surge capacity' might not be ready for another four weeks - by which time the deadly crisis could be at its peak. The government is also still only planning to test patients in hospitals, although Mr Johnson has pleaded with medical companies to help 'rapidly' develop a swab test that can be used in the community. The announcement came amid mounting alarm about the low level of screening, with anger that NHS workers are being forced to self-isolate because they are unsure whether they have the disease or not. Routine testing of suspected coronavirus sufferers was abandoned last week, when the government said it was no longer possible to 'contain' the spread. Instead those with symptoms are merely being urged to stay at home for a fortnight. Advertisement

Education is a devolved matter in the UK which means devolved administrations have the final say on what happens to schools within their borders.

Minister for Education in the devolved Welsh government Kirsty Williams announced this afternoon that closures in Wales would go ahead.

She said: 'Today, I can announce we are bringing forward the Easter break for schools in Wales. Schools across Wales will close for statutory provision of education at the latest on 20 March 2020.

'I have been clear up to now that the continuity of education and the wellbeing of our learners has been at the heart of my decision making. This will always be the case.

'From next week, schools will have a new purpose. They will help support those most in need, including people involved in the immediate response to the coronavirus outbreak. I am working with my colleagues in the Cabinet, with government officials and our partners in local government to develop and finalise these plans.'

She said those plans would focus on 'supporting and safeguarding the vulnerable and ensuring continuity of learning'.

Ms Williams said that 'childcare settings are expected to remain open until we have definitive advice from the Chief Medical Officer and from Public Health Wales that any closures are required'.

Ms Sturgeon said schools in Scotland had now lost too many staff through self-isolation to continue functioning as normal.

She said: 'My view is that it is now inevitable that we will close schools and nurseries and my planning assumption now is that schools will close to pupils at the end of this week. I wanted today to give parents notice of that now.'

She added: 'We have the reality on the ground as people do the right thing and follow the advice to self-isolate or to isolate as a household, more and more schools are approaching the point where they have lost too many staff to continue as normal.'

The Scottish First Minister said measures would be put in place to try to ensure doctors, nurses and other critical staff who have children can still work.

'Lives are on the line if they cannot,' she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon said she did not know when schools in Scotland would be able to reopen.

'On the question that I know parents and the wider public will have of how long this will last, the clearest guidance I can give now is that people should not assume that schools and nurseries will reopen after the Easter break,' she said.

'We will of course only keep them closed for as long as we absolutely have to but at this stage I cannot promise that they will reopen before the summer holidays.'

Mr Johnson had told MPs during PMQs earlier today that decisions on education provision in England would be taken 'imminently' in a clear hint towards this evening's announcement.

He said: 'We will do everything we can to remove burdens on schools and Ofsted is one in particular we can address.

A petition calling on the government to close schools across the UK had surged in recent days to more than 672,000 signatures

UK coronavirus death toll rises to 104 Britain's coronavirus death toll has today risen to 104 after the number of new daily fatalities doubled in the space of just 24 hours. Officials today announced 33 more deaths from the life-threatening infection in the UK – up from 16 yesterday and 20 on Monday, amid fears the outbreak in Britain is spiralling out of control. In preparation for an inevitable influx of deaths, a mortuary in Westminster today revealed it was having to double its capacity from 102 corpses to more than 200, in case the crisis continues to escalate as predicted. It comes as the number of confirmed cases in the UK today rose by almost 700, with 2,626 patients known to have been infected across the home nations – but the true toll is being masked by officials. Health chiefs only currently swab patients in hospital, a highly controversial decision that prompted the wrath of the World Health Organisation who urged countries to 'test, test, test'. The Government has asked medical companies to help 'rapidly' develop a test to be used in the community – not just hospitals, as it desperately seeks to get a grip of the unfolding crisis. Advertisement

'The House should expect further decisions to be taken imminently on schools and how to make sure we square the circle both of making sure we stop the spread of the disease but also making sure we relieve, as much as we can, pressure on our NHS.'

The announcements came after it emerged that pupils in some parts of the country were apparently sitting in empty classrooms while others were believed to be 'faking coughs' to stay home amid parents' fury that schools were still open.

A petition demanding all schools and colleges be shut down for an 'appropriate amount of time' has been surging in recent days.

Before the school closure announcements were made, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, Geoff Barton, had warned many schools would not be able to remain open past the end of the week.

He said roughly 10 to 20 per cent of teachers were self-isolating but the number was 'rapidly rising'.

Concerned teachers have also claimed as the outbreak has worsened they were unable to keep classrooms clean enough around the clock.

Alderman White School in Bramcote, near Nottingham, had this morning asked parents to keep their children at home today, if they could provide childcare.

It was also announced today that Marlborough College in Wiltshire would move to an 'online learning environment' and Eton College - Mr Johnson's old stomping ground - would also close to pupils. Winchester College is stopping all lessons and sending boys home at 9pm tomorrow evening.

Boris Johnson's old stomping ground Eton College (pictured above) near Windsor, is to shut down in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic

Marlborough College (pictured) in Wiltshire also said it was moving to an 'online learning environment' from 1pm today

Supermarkets impose strict rationing to combat panic buying Tesco has become the latest supermarket to impose strict rationing measures on items like loo roll, soap and UHT milk to curb coronavirus panic-buying. Customers stocking up across the country is intensifying today as supermarkets under mounting pressure are taking drastic rationing action in a bid to deal with the unprecedented demand for goods. Tesco, the UK's biggest supermarket, will impose restrictions on all customers to buying a maximum of three products per line from Thursday, as it copes with the high demand from the coronavirus pandemic, the company has announced. Britain's grocery industry has struggled for over a week to keep shelves stocked in the face of stockpiling, which worsened on Tuesday despite weekend appeals for calm from supermarket bosses and politicians. But experts have asked why supermarkets have introduced different limits on certain goods, creating confusion for customers and competition among rivals. Sainsbury's today announced it is closing its in-store bakeries, meat, fish and pizza counters and cafes from tomorrow to free up lorry and warehouse capacity, and to free up more staff to stack shelves. The supermarket will restrict people to only buying three of any single grocery item, with a two-item limit on the most popular goods such as toilet paper and long-life milk. From March 23, disabled customers and those over 70 will take priority for online delivery slots. Advertisement

Eton - which has fees of over £14,000 per term - decided to send pupils home this afternoon.

One member of staff at the school, who did not want to be named, said: 'I don't think it's much of a secret. We're sending the boys home at lunch today.'

A spokesman for Marlborough College said staff wanted to do their best to implement social distancing guidelines set out by the government.

They said: 'Marlborough College is moving to a “virtual school” environment from 1pm on 18th March.

'This decision will enable the College to continue to operate, given the increasing numbers of pupils and staff taking precautionary measures to self-isolate or to preempt further global travel restrictions which is making it impossible for the College to provide effective full boarding 24/7 residential care.

'The College will continue to deliver its timetabled academic lessons, pastoral support and co-curricular provision to pupils remotely, utilising a number of online platforms and delivery methods.

'The College has no confirmed case of COVID-19 and the campus will not be closed. All members of staff will continue with their duties until the end of term'.

Parents have suggested some children have tried to capitalise on the outbreak in order to avoid going to school.

One said children 'were not stupid' and added: 'Get Boris to close schools! All the children are making up a cough to come home anyway 40 sent home yesterday from one school yesterday and there's probably nothing wrong with them yet!'

Meanwhile, some schools have reportedly been incorporating cleaning into lesson plans, asking pupils to help keep classrooms as hygienic as possible.

What happens to YOUR children when the schools close? Boris Johnson promises GCSE & A-level pupils will get their qualifications - but how? And will there be teaching online?

Boris Johnson has promised that pupils will get their qualifications despite schools in England closing at the end of the week amid the continued coronavirus pandemic.

The Prime Minister announced the bombshell move earlier today and stated that the school gates would should on Friday and would not reopen for the foreseeable future.

The closure means that A-Level and GCSE examinations planned for May and June have been cancelled but Mr Johnson insists that qualifications will still be 'administered' fairly.

Mr Johnson's announcement - confirmed by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson in a statement to the House of Commons at the same time as the PM's daily coronavirus press conference - came after the other three Home Nations had already committed to closures.

Announcing the closures of schools and nurseries, the Prime Minister said: 'Of course this does mean that exams will not take place as planned in May and June.

'Though we will make sure that pupils get the qualifications they need and deserve for their academic career.'

He added that the qualifications would be 'administered' fairly and in order to protect pupils' interests but has not yet detailed how and when this would happen.

Boris Johnson has promised that pupils will get their qualifications despite schools in England closing at the end of the week amid the continued coronavirus pandemic (stock image)

It is now thought that teacher assessment and mock results will form the basis of grades – but it was unclear how this would work in practice.

Echoing the Prime Minister's sentiment, Mr Williamson said: 'We recognise that there are no easy choices but we have agreed that the best way forward is not to proceed with summer exam series.

'Learners due to sit their GCSEs and A levels this summer will be awarded a fair grade to recognise their work, drawing on the range of information that is available.

'We will be working with the sector to announce further details shortly but wanted to give this early certainty.'

He added: 'I did not want to be the Education Secretary who was the one to cancel all exams. We will work... to ensure that children get the qualifications that they need.'

But scores of pupils have already turned to social media to protest, claiming that mock results did not reflect the progress they made in revision.

One student wrote: 'How can we possibly get awarded A-level grades when we can't sit our exams and prove what we're worthy of getting. Mocks don't reflect our capabilities and I think most Year 13s are devastated right now.'

Mr Williamson went on to say said a 'means of redress' will be put in place for GCSE and A-Level students if they are unhappy with their allotted grades.

Teaching unions backed the decision to shut down the increasing 'chaos' in schools and promised to make sure 'qualifications are awarded fairly and consistently in lieu of exams'.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association Of School And College Leaders, said: 'The cancellation of GCSE and A-level exams will inevitably cause anxiety to students, and we will work closely with Ofqual on ensuring that qualifications are awarded fairly and consistently in lieu of exams.

'We would reassure the public that schools have already prepared learning resources for pupils who are sent home and will communicate with families through the normal channels.'

The official measures that the Government intend to put place are expected to be announced over the coming days.

The only pupils expected to still attend school will be those considered vulnerable, such as those in care, alongside the children of key workers – including NHS staff, police, social care workers and supermarket delivery drivers – so they can continue to work.

These 'skeleton' schools, which will cater for around 10 per cent of pupils, will continue to operate during the Easter holidays.

Mr Williamson also announced that educational programmes will be screened by the BBC to help children learn at home while their schools are closed as individual schools work out what they can offer using technology.

No national performance league tables will be published this year.