VACCINATIONS for school staff will be mandatory as part of a NSW Government plan for a staggered return to school that was released on Friday 27 August.

The Department of Education developed the plan to "bring students back in a covid-safe way" while stay-at-home orders are still in place.

While children of essential workers continue to be able to attend school in person, their classmates will begin to return from 25 October, with Kindergarten and Year 1 students the first to be permitted back through the school gates.

They will be joined from 1 November by students in Years 2, 6 and 11, while students in Years 3-5 and 7-10 will follow a week later from 8 November.

HSC exams delayed

Higher School Certificate (HSC) students are already able to access schools in a limited way and this will continue until 25 October, when they will have full time access to school campuses and their teachers.

The plan also includes postponing the HSC exams until 9 November with a revised timetable and guidelines for a COVID-safe HSC set to be released in early September.

Schools in some local areas could return sooner

There is some hope for an early return in areas where covid cases drop.

'If stay at home orders are lifted in an LGA or region before 25 October, all students living or learning in that area will return to face to face learning under the Department’s COVID-safe schools framework," an Education Department spokesperson said. 

"However, if cases in certain LGAs (local government areas) increase significantly, learning from home will resume for that LGA until case numbers drop."

Compulsory vaccinations 

Vaccinations for all school staff in NSW - including government and non-government schools - will be mandatory from 8 November.

Both school and early childhood staff will be able to participate in priority vaccinations from 6 September, although local health officials have pointed out that there are plenty of vaccination opportunities already available.

A recent survey of the public school workforce indicated that more than 67% had already received their first dose and 39% had received two doses, however making the vaccines mandatory is a significant step.

Non-government schools included - without consultation

The Independent Education Union (IEU) that represents more than 32,000 teachers and support staff in non-government schools says that the announcement came as a surprise.

“This return to school has been announced by the NSW government without consultation with teachers and principals in the non-government sector. We know school staff expect the NSW Government to consult with them through their unions during this unprecedented time,” IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam said.

The IEU has called for an urgent roundtable with non-government school employers, NSW Health and NSW Education to unpack the complex logistics of the staged return to schools proposed by the NSW Government.

"Teachers and support staff also have countless questions about how the return to school will work whilst ensuring the health and welfare of students is safeguarded," Mr Northam said.

"For example, the return of Year 12 students on 25 October, will require that about 30 percent of a school’s teaching staff return. Many of these teachers also teach students in other years."

"Does this mean teaching in a classroom one moment and on Zoom the next?," he said.

"This needs to be addressed carefully."

High school students and parents asked to get the jab

With young people from the age of 12 now eligible for a vaccine, the Education Department says all students will be strongly encouraged to book an appointment and all parents who have not been vaccinated are also strongly encouraged to get the vaccine as soon as possible.

“The return to school plan provides parents, teachers and students with certainty and a path forward for the return to face-to-face learning,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We know the last few months have been tough on the school community and we are deeply grateful to parents, teachers and students for the sacrifices you have made. Please continue to protect our students by getting vaccinated as quickly as possible.”