Unions call for primary schools to close next week

Unions have welcomed the announcement that secondary schools and colleges will move online for the last week of term before the Christmas holidays – but have called for primary schools to do the same.

In recent weeks, concern had been raised that pupils and teachers could be forced to self-isolate over Christmas if they came into contact with a coronavirus case during the last week of term, which begins on Monday, December 14.

St Martin’s School in Caerphilly had already announced it would close for the last week before Christmas – moving its inset days forward from the summer.

Caerphilly County Borough announced earlier this week it would move to remote learning for all schools the final two days of term.

However, Welsh Government announced a Wales-wide policy on Thursday, December 10.

Rosie Lewis of UNISON Cymru Wales, said the union had written to Education Minister Kirsty Williams, calling for all schools to move to remote learning for the final week.

She said: “The need for all staff in schools to have a proper break during the Christmas period, without the added worry that they may have to self-isolate – or worse still test positive – was fundamental to our request.”

However, Ms Lewis said it was “extremely disappointing” that primary schools were to remain open.

This was echoed by Laura Doel, director of teaching union NAHT Cymru.

Ms Doel said: “We are bitterly disappointed for primary schools and their families. This decision ignores Welsh government’s own advice on pre-isolating before seeing extended family over the Christmas holidays.

“In allowing households to mix over Christmas, the government passed responsibility for making Covid safety decisions on to individuals. But it is not allowing them the flexibility to decide their own priorities.

“Many parents will simply vote with their feet and keep children at home anyway.”

Education Minister Ms Williams said the measures have been introduced due to the rising number of coronavirus cases across Wales.

She said: “We recognise, as we did during the firebreak, that it is more difficult for primary and special school age children to undertake self-directed learning.

“That is why we are encouraging primary and special schools to continue to stay open.