Frome College has detailed its coronavirus testing schedule as pupils there head back into the classroom.

Unlike Writhlington school, where they completed 800 tests over the past weekend and sent all year groups back in today (March 8), the college is bringing back year groups in stages.

Then the following is scheduled :

•Tuesday 9th March testing for Year 9 and back to college on Wednesday 10th March

• Wednesday 10th March second test for post 16 whilst in college
• Thursday 11th March second test for year 11 whilst in college
• Friday 12th March second test for year 10 whilst in college
• Monday 15th March second test for year 9 whilst in college.

After this the logistically complex testing scheduling will finish in college, and pupils will be sent home with a third test.

Face masks are expected to be worn in all secondary school classrooms as pupils return - at least for the remaining weeks of this term.

But the UK's Children's Minister Vicky Ford has conceded that while face masks would be "strongly recommended" they are not compulsory, and nor is the actual taking of coronavirus fast flow tests.

The return of millions of school pupils today is after two months of home-learning in the first step of Boris Johnson's 'one-way road to freedom' post-lockdown.

In other changes for Frome College, only Year 9 and Year 10 will be wearing school uniform, with Year 11s, the GCSE pupil year, in mufti until the school year finishes, although that is also being left open with reports that the Education Secretary may change the school calendar.

There will also be a staggered finish to the school day, with Year 9s finishing at 2.45pm Year 11s finishing at 3pm and the Year 10s at 3.10pm.