As part of wider measures to curb the further spread of COVID-19, countries closed schools and other education institutions. Some 1.58 billion learners are away from school, representing 91.3% of the global school population – an unprecedented situation in the history of education1. UNESCO organized the sixth COVID-19 education response webinar on 24 April 2020 with the title ‘Back to school: Preparing and managing the reopening of schools’, around effective strategies for anticipating and preparing for school reopening and sharing lessons from past crises.Reopening schools after the confinement is a complex decision that needs to be made based on advice from health experts and in consultation with all concerned actors. Key questions revolve around the timing, conditions and processes for reopening, with the overall safety, health and well-being of the entire school population as the primary concern.