SCHOOL bubbles will cease to exist and under 18s will no longer be required to self-isolate from next month, the Education Secretary has announced.

Gavin Williamson told MPs that from August 16, the bubbles - which have seen major disruption caused to children's education - will stop being used.

Under 18s who receive a self-isolation message from the NHS Test and Trace app will also not be required to self-isolate from that date.

However, the Government was criticised for not presenting a plan to stop case numbers from rising higher and higher, and was accused of "negligence".

Williamson said: “Keeping children in consistent groups was essential to control the spread of the virus when our population was less vaccinated.

“We recognise that the system of bubbles and isolation is causing disruption to many children’s education.

"That is why we’ll be ending bubbles and transferring contact tracing to the NHS Test and Trace system for early years settings, schools and colleges.

“I do not think it is acceptable that children should face greater restrictions over and above those of wider society, especially since they have given up so much to keep older generations safe during this pandemic.

“Where there are outbreaks schools and colleges may be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and they will also work with local health teams as they currently do now.

“We’re also setting out new rules that mean from August 16 children will only need to isolate if they have tested positive for Covid-19.”

He added that while staggered start and finish times will no longer be required, "schools and colleges may of course continue with these measures until the end of the summer term if they so wish.”

He also said: “From August 16, those under the age of 18 will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case.”

While face masks and social distancing will be scrapped by the time pupils return in September, "some protective measures – including enhanced hygiene and ventilation – will remain in place for the autumn term," the Education Secretary added.

Regular weekly testing is also expected to continue in staff and students.

Responding to the announcement, Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green said: "Just over an hour ago the Department for Education confirmed that last week 623,000 pupils were not in school because of coronavirus, and while 471,000 of those pupils were out of class because of a bubble collapsing, there was still over 150,000 who were not in the classroom with confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus or because of potential contact with a case outside the classroom.

“It’s not just bubbles that have driven pupils from the classroom, it’s the Conservatives’ negligence in letting the Delta variant take hold at the same time as they failed to support schools with the necessary precautions.

“Many parents will be relieved to hear that the chaotic bubbles policy is coming to an end but the Secretary of State hasn’t given us confidence that his alternative will keep more children in school without driving up infections.

“Can he explain to me why masks were required in schools in March and April but aren’t required now when case numbers are much higher?”