All schools shut and exams called-off as England is plunged into a THIRD lockdown

ALL schools are closed from tonight and GCSEs and A-levels cancelled.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said primaries, secondaries and colleges across England will be shut until at least the February half term.

Schools will stay open only to vulnerable children and the offspring of key workers, with all other lessons switching online.

GCSE and A level exams are now cancelled for the second year running.

Kids on free school meals are expected to get supermarket vouchers to feed them following footballer Marcus Rashford’s high profile campaign.

Scotland’s schools have been shut until at least the end of February, and they will stay shut in Wales for a fortnight.

Mr Johnson said he was forced to order a second school shutdown as the mutant Covid strain is surging.

He said: “The problem is schools may act as vectors for transmission, causing the virus to spread between households.”

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson argued against closures, Trending In The News was told.

But the PM overruled him after Michael Gove and Matt Hancock pushed for them.

A Whitehall insider said: “Schools are going to close for months and we are going to see a world of pain.”