Term two state by state: who is back to school and who is not

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy have both maintained that the risk of COVID-19 infection for children in classrooms is low, and both say social distancing measures need not be followed by students at school.

With so many variants from state to state here's how each state and territory is operating in term two.

NSW: Staggered start

Term two kicked off on April 27, with two pupil free days.
Students will undertake online learning during the first two weeks of term, starting Wednesday, April 30.
From May 11 - the third week of term two - schools will resume face-to-face learning for students who will initially attend one day a week, increasing attendance as the term progresses.
Students will attend on different days to limit the number of pupils at school at the same time. How this will operate will be determined by individual schools.
The NSW government aims to have full-time, face-to-face learning resume from the start of term three.
Schools remain open for all those students who need to attend.

VICTORIA: Online learning

Term two commenced Monday, April 14, with students undertaking online learning.
In Victoria, the health advice is for remote learning to remain in place for the rest of term two.
All students who can learn from home must learn from home.
Onsite learning in schools will continue to be provided for vulnerable children and for children of essential workers who are unable to make alternative arrangements.

ACT: Remote learning

Classes are set to resume on Tuesday, April 28, with families across Canberra logging in to access remote learning to start term two.
Students, such as children of essential workers, unable to learn from home will attend nine hub schools. Students must register to attend these supervised school sites.
The territory's four specialist schools: Black Mountain School, Cranleigh School, Woden School and Malkara school will also remain open.

TASMANIA: At home

Students to commence term two on Tuesday, April 28.
Where possible, students will continue to learn at home, supported by parents and carers, with teachers leading this learning.
School sites will be open in northern and southern regions for those students who cannot be supervised or supported to learn at home.
In the North West region, which has recently experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 cases, schools will be closed until Monday, May 4.
Those learning at home will be provided with tasks from their teacher, which have been adjusted for the home environment.

QUEENSLAND: If you can stay home, you should

Term two began Monday, April 20, with students undertaking at-home learning.
This decision to operate under a home-based learning model will apply for at least the first five weeks of term two, and a further decision will be made regarding the second half of term two by mid-May.
All students who are able to be supervised at home and learn from home are to stay home, except for vulnerable students and children of essential workers.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Encouraged to attend

South Australian schools returned on Monday, April 27, with the South Australian Education Department website, pointing to the current low rates of infection in the state, encouraging students to attend.
Remote learning will be available for students who are kept at home. Students learning remotely must be supervised by their parent or carer and will be supported by their school to continue their learning from home.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Seniors urged to get back to classroom

In Western Australia, schools will open for term two on April 29.
Schools are open for all parents and carers who choose to send their children.
While parents can choose to keep their children home, year 11 and 12 students are strongly encouraged to attend school.
Students at school will be taught a face-to-face program and timetable.
For those students who learn from home, distance education packages and resources will be provided.

NORTHERN TERRITORY: Expected in class

Term two commenced on April 20, with all Northern Territory students expected to physically attend school.
Students who are unwell must remain at home.

Where families elect not to send their child to school, the child must be learning from home.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Independent schools are fully autonomous - they run their own affairs, make their own decisions and there is no central office.

A spokesman for the Association of Independent Schools of NSW indicated that the feedback they've been receiving is that there will probably be more students back as a proportion than there will be in government schools and definitely a lot more year 11 and 12 students.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

In the Catholic school system, National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins said "there will be some variances in the way Catholic schools manage the transition of students back to classroom learning in term two, in response to differing state restrictions and local needs."

Parents and carers will be advised of specific arrangements by their child's school.
The priority for all Catholic schools is the health and safety of students and staff, and enabling students to return to classroom learning as soon as practicable.
Catholic education is monitoring and responding quickly to the advice of federal, state and territory governments and health authorities.
Catholic schools will continue to remain open for students who need to attend, and will provide remote learning to ensure that all students can continue their schooling during this period.