The government's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has revealed his plans for schools in England - including those on the Isle of Wight.

Around an hour after Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the Isle of Wight would be among those areas moving into Tier Four overnight, Mr Williamson has just delivered a statement on what will happen when the school term starts again on Monday.

​Mr Williamson told MPs in the Commons that the Government had to make an “immediate adjustment” to its plans for the reopening of schools in early January.

He said: “We must always act swiftly when circumstances change. The evidence about the new Covid variant and rising infection rates have required some immediate adjustment to our plans for the new term.”

He added: “The latest study we have from Public Health England is that Covid infections among children are triggered by changes in the community rate. The study also says that the wider impact of school closures on children’s development would be significant.

“I’m quite clear that we must continue to do all we can to keep children in school.”

What will happen?

Most primary schools will open on Monday.

In some areas, where infection is highest, some schools will open only for keyworker families and vulnerable children. A list of those affected will be published shortly and will not include all Tier Four areas.

Those affected areas will be reviewed regularly.

A testing programme for primary schools will roll out in late January.

Exam year secondary school children (Years 11 and 13) will return to school on January 11, later than originally planned.

Other secondary school and college children will go back full time on January 18, said Mr Williamson.

A mass testing programme will also be rolled out for pupils and staff from January 4 - starting with exam year children.

Schools will open for keyworker families and vulnerable children. Online learning will take place for others.

Universities have been told to offer students two rapid tests when they return - and to stagger the return of those studying with them.

Live blog: Covid news for the Isle of Wight on Wednesday December 30

Earlier, the government announced it had given the green light to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.