Pupils return to school classrooms across Scotland

School pupils across Scotland return to the classroom this week after the majority of coronavirus restrictions were lifted.

It comes after pupils in Angus, East Dunbartonshire and the Western Isles went back to school last week.

In the rest of the country, youngsters were reunited with their peers from Monday.

However, the start of term will not resemble the norm, with Covid protocols remaining in place for at least six weeks.

These include physical distancing of at least one metre between all staff, as well as staff and pupils.

Senior pupils and school staff will also be required to wear face coverings whilst they are indoors.

Many other measures that were in place at the end of last term are also set to be retained including one-way systems, hand hygiene, and staggered start and stop times.

The “blanket” isolation of whole classes when an individual tests positive for coronavirus will also no longer be routine, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon explained earlier this month.

Council areas with schools returning on Monday, August 16: Argyll and Bute, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire.

Council areas with schools returning on Tuesday, August 17: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Highland, Moray, Orkney Islands, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian.

Council areas with schools returning on Wednesday, August 18: Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, Scottish Borders, Shetland Islands, Stirling.

Council areas with schools returning on Thursday, August 19: Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire.