Schools to be open for three weeks before summer holidays

Schools in Caerphilly County Borough will be open for three weeks after they reopen on June 29 following the coronavirus lockdown.

It was initially planned that the summer term would end on Friday, July 24, but it will instead end a week earlier on July 17.

Caerphilly County Borough Council leader, Cllr Philippa Marsden, said: “We are taking a consistent approach across Gwent and I very much welcome this opportunity for pupils to check in and catch up before the summer break.

“Our priority is to safeguard the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff, as well as ensuring learning can resume as quickly and safely as possible.”

Schools will reopen with social distancing in place, which will see reduced class sizes and staggered starts, breaks and finishing times.

No more than a third of all pupils will be in school at any one time.

Cllr Barbara Jones, cabinet member for education, said: “We would like to assure the whole community that all appropriate steps will be taken to safeguard pupils and this will remain our key priority.

“Everyone involved in reopening schools has been working extremely hard and we are sure that the children attending school for the three weeks will have an enjoyable, productive and worthwhile experience that will help as many as possible to check in, catch up and prepare for September.”