Schools and colleges in Wales to be closed until the 18th at earliest

Welsh schools and colleges will not be going back before the 18th at the earliest, in a change to a policy announced this evening.

Schools will be closed for face to face teaching and will revert to online distance learning provision, but schools will stay open for vulnerable learners and children of key workers in a similar manner as earlier in the pandemic.

Before Christmas ‘some flexibility’ was built in for the beginning of term, with some learners in Wales starting back today for a new term – with a staggered return through to the 18th. That plan was announced to ‘give some certainty’ and allow time to put in place ‘proportionate arrangements’. At the time of that statement, Wrexham was at 360 per 100k on the rolling seven day benchmark coronavirus figure – today that is 735.5 per 100k and the second worst in Wales.

Wrexham was set to provide face-to-face learning for the majority of pupils from January 11th, and all pupils from January 18th meaning some pupils would be learning from home during the first week or two of term regardless.

Yesterday Education Minister Kirsty Williams said, “We agreed before Christmas a flexible return to school in January, so that local decisions can be made based on local circumstances. Some schools return next week, with the majority open fully by 18 January, with remote learning until then. We continue to monitor and publish the latest evidence, and our science advisory group TAG meets again this week.”

This lunchtime the Health Minister said further updated scientific and health evidence was due to be considered, and after consideration decisions on schools could be made today or tomorrow.

The move was announced by the Education Minister this evening:

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

— Kirsty Williams (@wgmin_education) January 4, 2021

We understand Wrexham Council will be using the coming few weeks to monitor, assess and consider local data, with the date of the 18th being a ‘minimum’ rather than a hard and fast reopening date.

The Education Minister has tweeted a few quick Q&As:

Q. I’m a keyworker – will schools be open for my child?

A: @WelshGovernment has provided funding to local authorities to ensure the continued provision of free school meals for eligible children. You should contact you school or LA for more information.

The full written statement by the Minister has been released, copied in full below:

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.

I will continue to update members.

This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.

Reacting to the announcement that schools in Wales will be shut until January 18, Suzy Davies MS – the Conservative Shadow Minister for Education – said: “With many children having been due to begin a ‘staggered’ return to school from Wednesday onwards, this news has come late for them and for their parents.”

“The closure will affect all primary and secondary schools, and additional learning needs (ALN) bases will remain open ‘if possible’.

“However, 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.”

“Because of the planned staggered return, we were told that teachers were preparing online, blended learning. I hope, and I’m sure all parents and pupils feel the same, that these systems can be adapted for this full closure.”

“What parents, pupils, and teachers across Wales need is reassurance from the Minister as to what conditions must be met for schools to re-open, because while a prudent measure, to read that the next two weeks will be used to plan for ‘… rest of term’ offers little reassurance.”

“This announcement, however, reinforces our calls for teachers to be prioritised to receive the new vaccine, because this virus has damaged our young learners’ education enough.”

Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Minister for Education, Siân Gwenllian MS said: “This is clarity at the eleventh hour from the Welsh Government, leaving little or no time for parents and teachers to adapt to the changing circumstances.

“In Scotland, the Government has decided to move education on-line until February as the virus has got ahead of the vaccine. The Welsh Government needs to explain why it is lagging behind in taking robust action to get the virus under control.

“It is unclear what the Welsh Government expects will change in just two weeks’ time and so we risk being in the same position yet again with yet more confusion in a fortnight.

“An immunisation programme for all school staff needs to get underway with a timetable for roll out announced.

“Hubs for vulnerable children and the children of key workers are needed. The Education Minister needs to explain what support will be available to children from disadvantaged backgrounds who will now fall further behind with their education, and for parents who are juggling work and looking after children at home.

“Plaid Cymru has long called for a focus on removing the digital divide – that should have happened by now. Urgent action is needed.”