All students will be able to go home for Christmas but some may need to self-isolate first, the Education Secretary has said.

Gavin Williamson, addressing MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon, said the Government will work with universities to make sure all students are supported to return home for Christmas if they choose to do so.

He said: “I know there has been some anxiety about the impact safety measures will have on the Christmas holidays.

“Students are important members of the communities that they choose to study in. We expect them to follow the same guidance as those same local communities.

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“We are going to work with universities to make sure that all students are supported to return home safely and spend Christmas with their loved ones if they choose to do so.”

Mr Williamson said it is “essential” that measures are put in place to ensure that students can return home for Christmas.

He said: “It’s essential we put in place measures to ensure this can happen, while minimising the risk of transmission.

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“Where there are specific circumstances that warrant it, there may be a requirement for some students to self-isolate at the end of term and we will be working with the sector to ensure this will be possible, including ending in-person learning if that is deemed to be necessary.

“My department will publish this guidance shortly so that every student will be able to spend Christmas with their family.”

Mr Williamson added the Government was confident universities are well prepared to handle any outbreaks of Covid should they arise.

He said: “Where students choose to stay in their university accommodation over Christmas, universities should continue making sure they’re safe and well looked after.

“Of course, it is inevitable there will be cases of Covid occurring in universities just as there are in our wider communities and the constituencies that we represent.

“But we believe that universities are very well prepared to handle any outbreaks as they arise and we have been working with the sector and Public Health England to make sure that they have every support and assistance they need should this happen.”