Confirmation received that schools in Wales will remain closed until January 18
Schools in Wales will remain closed for face-to-face learning until January 18th, it’s been announced this evening.
The Welsh Government said pupils would be required to undertake online learning instead following the end of the Christmas break.
It follows pressure from teachers’ unions for the Welsh Government to revisit its plans for youngsters to return in light of the rising number of coronavirus cases, with figures spiking in parts of North Wales in particular.
Pwllheli-based Ysgol Pentreuchaf is one of those which had trailed the announcement, tweeting: “following an emergency meeting with the education authority this afternoon, all Gwynedd Council schools will move to a distance learning model for the rest of this week at least.”
Important: @WelshGovernment, in consultation with the @WelshLGA & @ColegauCymru, has just agreed that all schools and colleges will move to online learning until Monday January 18th.
Please watch & share this video to help make others aware.
Further information in thread below. pic.twitter.com/wmb9B3T1zn
— Lynne Neagle (@AddysgEducation) January 4, 2021
Nicholas Evans, headteacher of Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn in Llandudno, also sent out a letter to say that the school has received correspondence from Conwy Council this afternoon regarding delays to re-opening.
He said it indicated that schools would remain shut until January 18, except for vulnerable learners and the children of key workers.
Kirsty Williams MS, Minister for Education, said:
The situation in Wales and across the UK remains very serious. Today, the four UK Chief Medical Officers have agreed that the UK is now at the highest level of risk, Joint Biosecurity Council level 5.
In the light of that decision the Welsh Government, in consultation with the WLGA and Colegau Cymru, has agreed that all schools, colleges and independent schools should move to online learning until January 18th.
As a government we will use the next two weeks to continue to work with local authorities, schools and colleges to plan for the rest of term.
This is the best way to ensure that parents, staff and learners can be confident in the return to face to face learning, based on the latest evidence and information.
Schools and colleges will remain open for children of critical workers and vulnerable learners, as well as for learners who need to complete essential exams or assessments. On this basis Special Schools and PRU’s should remain open if possible.
We had initially given schools flexibility in the first two weeks of term to decide when to reopen based on local circumstances.
But it is now clear that a national approach of online learning for the first fortnight of term is the best way forward.
We know that schools and colleges have been safe and secure environments throughout the pandemic.
However, we also know that education settings being open can contribute to wider social mixing outside the school and college environment.
We are confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place for this immediate period,
Universities in Wales have already agreed a staggered start to term. Students should not return to universities for face to face learning until they are notified that they can do so.
Wales remains in the highest level of restrictions. Everyone must stay at home.
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