Disruption at schools could ‘last into next year’, principal warns

Robert Robinson from Campbell College told the BBC: “I cannot see this really ending before Christmas.

“There is going to be a period of uncertainty - you prepare yourself for the worst and hope for the best. The worst is that this will go on for a long time.

Mr Robinson said his staff had been planning for the new school year.

Meanwhile the vice president of teaching union the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has said he was not consulted about a return to classrooms here on August 17.

The Education Minister, Peter Weir, gave the date during an online meeting this week.

“This is a surprise and quite disappointing, actually, because we have been pressing the minister to consult fully with trade unions on these decisions”, Graham Gault of the NAHT told the BBC.

He added: “A lot of difficulties, a lot of problems, could really be prevented if the minister and his office did consult with unions prior to making the announcement”.