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As I previously wrote, there is a gradient of risk of infection for school kids. A 6 year old is not the same as a 16 year old. Opening nurseries & primary schools with appropriate measures is fairly safe. Senior schools/FE colleges etc are different.
1/ https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-school-closures-whats-the-evidence-154210
1/ https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-school-closures-whats-the-evidence-154210
Many schools have done risk assessments to identify where the risks are (e.g. crowding, poor ventilation) & putting in mitigation measures. This is essential. Every room, building, & school is different. Some are large airy rooms, whilst some can be poorly ventilated boxes.
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Hygiene/cleaning is important. Would you believe my kids school pre-pandemic didn't have soap as a cost cutting measure? Thankfully that's now rectified & there's more vigilance in schools. This applies to staff too!
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Many schools have staggered breaks to reduce crowding in communal areas eg canteen. Staggered starts/ends can also reduce crowding in corridors & at the school gate. Others have created one way systems for exit/entry to improve flow.
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Adult-adult spread is still the greatest risk, so staff need to be vigilant. Avoid congregating in staff/common rooms for example. All the measures (distancing, face coverings, hand hygiene) apply. (This isn't unique to schools: same for clinics, care homes & other workplaces)
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Most if not all schools also operate "bubbles". From what I've seen this works really well when schools react quickly to shut down bubbles when a case is first identified in that bubble. Delayed closure increases the opportunities for spread to take place.
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School transport is tricky. Avoid car sharing (between households). Mask up if using public transport. Treat school buses the way we treat class bubbles. Even better, walk/cycle to school if you can - & get some positive health benefits in the process.
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IMO I think there should be greater use of face masks especially when indoors & in older teenagers where their infectivity is more similar to adults. Schools in countries like Singapore do it as routine (& have seen no adverse effects) as do some of our private schools.
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