A staged return to schools in Sydney will see the youngest and oldest age groups return to the classroom first.

Children in Kindergarten and Year 1, and teenagers in Year 12, will commence face-to-face learning from October 25.

Years 2, 6 and 11 will return from November 1 while all other age groups will be back in class from November 8.

The HSC exams will be pushed back until November 9.

Vaccination will be mandatory for all school staff from November 8.

Masks will be mandatory for school staff and highschool students.

NSW has recorded 882 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths.

NSW Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos told Deborah Knight they continue to encourage teachers to get vaccinated.

“It’s a public health order, it’s as simple as that.”

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Image: Nine News