Are schools really responsible for driving the spread of coronavirus?

How strong is the evidence that schools are a major cause of the spread of this virus? Ben Chu investigates

Some have argued high rates among children reflect high rates in their local communities, rather than high transmission between children (PA)

Ministers have bowed to pressure from scientists and teaching unions to delay the return to the classroom for secondary school children (and some primary school children) in England.

"The evidence about the new Covid variant and rising infection rates have required some immediate adjustment to our plans for the new term," education secretary, Gavin Williamson, told the Commons on Wednesday afternoon.