Covid tests and masks will not be compulsory at English schools, says minister

It will not be compulsory for school pupils to take Covid tests twice a week, nor wear face coverings in class, the schools minister Nick Gibb has confirmed.

But Gibb said he hoped that most students would wear masks and volunteer to take tests twice a week in school, before being given home testing kits.

In interviews on Thursday, Gibb also insisted that while this summer’s exams had been scrapped, teachers would have to show evidence for the grades they gave, as part of checks against grade inflation.