With the city's lockdown finally coming to an end at midnight on September 24, public as well as private schools can now return to face-to-face learning.

James Sheahan Catholic High School as well as the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst both confirmed on Thursday that students would return on October 5 after the public holiday.

However, students and staff would still be subject to level 3 restrictions, which would include mandatory mask-wearing both indoors and outdoors, except when eating or drinking or playing sport. Teachers could also remove their masks when providing instruction.

In a letter home to parents, James Sheahan said that "students who display COVID-like symptoms (cold symptoms, persistent sneezing, persistent cough, sore throat, running nose, temperature, headache, etc) cannot attend school until they provide evidence of a Negative COVID Test".

"All staff and students are expected to return to school next Tuesday and Remote Learning will cease.

"We will not be providing two modes of learning and this will not be provided as an option," the school said.

"Staff and students in lockdown LGAs or from outside of Orange are allowed to attend school.

"As such, students in current lockdown areas such as Bathurst would be expected to attend the school from Tuesday.

"High school students are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated."

Fellow Orange private schools Kinross Wolaroi School and Orange Christian School will similarly be returning to face-to-face learning from Tuesday, October 5. While Orange Anglican Grammar School will start Term 4 a week later on October 11.

A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed that public schools in Orange would also return to the classroom on Tuesday.

There had been some some confusion around the day Orange students would return to school after NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that students could return from October 18 - however this was only in Sydney LGAs.

All schools in both Orange and Cabonne will be subject to Level 3 COVID restrictions, according to the NSW Department of Education.

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