The NSW Government announced on Tuesday afternoon that students would be required to return to school from May 25, affecting all public schools in Bathurst.

Some schools in Bathurst had been sending students in on certain days, but from next Monday, students will be returning to the normal five-days-a-week schedule.

Mr Petersen, who is also the former principal of Denison College, said students are "overwhelmingly" keen to return to normal classes.

"I think overall it is [exciting for students to be returning to school]," he said.

"I think there is a mix reaction right across the state, as you could imagine, but by and large, teachers are keen to get their students back into their classrooms.

"While teachers have worked really hard with the online learning, it is a challenge for them. This will simplify things for them."

The mix reaction Mr Petersen alludes to is parents who are concerned for the welfare and health of their children, as well as from staff who are concerned about social distancing.

"There is certainly concerns," he said.

"I think the last stat that I saw was that 40 per cent of parents, nationally, were concerned whether schools were safe for their children.

"There's also some anxiety from staff and that's around the perceived mixed messaging. Like you can only five people in your house but obviously in the classroom, even with the social distancing, you're having 10-15.

"We are particularly concerned about how we can manage the social distancing for adults at a school. A lot of staff rooms are quite crowded and the front office can often be a place where lots of people are congregating or passing through."

While the usual schooling routine has been severely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Petersen said there had been some positives from the situation.

"Teachers are engaging with technology that they haven't previously," he said.

"There's lots of parents that are commenting about how they've got a better understanding of where their child is at academically. There's also been a greater appreciation of the centrality of schools in the local communities."

Under new guidelines, students will be able to use the school library, continue with apprenticeships, attend after-school care and mingle in the schoolyard.

However, school excursions including camps, as well as work experience, debating and sport with other school communities will not be permitted.