The number of pupils physically attending school in Cumbria is lower than during the first lockdown in spring last year.

Since the beginning of term in both primary and secondary schools, there has been an overall attendance of 12 per cent from 75 per cent of the county's schools, Cumbria County Council revealed.

Of those children in schools, 65 per cent were from key worker families and 33 per cent were vulnerable children.

A spokesman for the council, which runs the state schools in the county, said: "It is going quite well in schools at the moment and we have had just over three quarters of schools in the county get back to us on attendance so far.

"These statistics are lower than in the previous lockdown and not as high as expected.

"Schools are working very hard under significant pressure and they are doing a fantastic job of supporting families during this difficult period.

"The situation is manageable at the moment and schools are working to help communities across Cumbria."

This recent data goes against the national trend as it has been reported that schools are generally seeing much higher numbers of students physically in classrooms as the key worker status has been extended to more job roles this time around.

The data given by the council takes into account both primary and secondary schools so the picture for secondary pupils may be skewed in favour of the prior due to a higher amount of pupils being in primary school.

Schools announced they would be closed a day after they officially opened at the start of January following pressure on the Government to close them for the safety of staff, students, and their families.

Schools are due to remain closed until at least the February half-term and all learning has reverted to being online, only vulnerable children or those from key worker families where alternative childcare cannot be arranged are permitted to be in school.