increase in students absent as well, 159,000 who were absent after testing positive for covid. the issue schools are grappling with, the bbc has spoken to hundreds of them around the country, the picture different depending on where you are, some schools more impacted than others, they are having to find creative solutions, some schools moving classrooms into assembly halls to cover for those classes that they cannot find temporary staff of four, otherwise known as supply teachers. the government say they are helping particularly we heard in that reportjust a moment ago how more than 320,000 carbon dioxide detectors, 7000 air purifiers but we have heard how some schools who do not feel they will qualify have had to fork out for that as well. sean, thank you. anyone who records a positive lateral flow test in england but doesn t have any symptoms, no longer needs to take a pcr test from today. it s hoped easing the rule
contingencies in ahead of time, pre empting the phone call. today s figures show some schools have been hit hard. most pupils are still learning in class, not at home, as schools in england try to ride out this latest covid wave. branwenjeffreys, bbc news, birmingham. our education correspondent sean dilleyjoins me. one in12, how one in 12, how startling is that and secondly, how are schools coping? the figure itself is not startling, if you look at the overall figures, you are looking at one in 12 of on the 6th of january compared to december but what is more interesting is when you look at the percentage of those off with reason specific to covid, that was 3% before christmas up to 4.9% now, fairly big issue for schools already grappling with the fact in the first week of term, there was also an