Coronavirus: Wales to open all schools on 29 June for four-week term
Written by News on 03/06/2020
All schools in Wales will reopen on 29 June, the country’s education minister has said.
Kirsty Williams said the four-week term will end on 27 July and will see staggered starts, lessons and breaks for different year groups.
Only a third of pupils at most will be in school at any one time.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Teachers will be prioritised for antibody testing, the education minister said.
Ms Williams said the shorter term would give pupils, staff and parents time to prepare for a “new normal” when the next academic year begins in September.
“June 29 means there will have been one full month of test, trace and protect, which will continue to expand,” she added.
Explaining why schools will be opening at the end of this month, she said: “The evolving science suggests that warm weather and sunlight gives us the best opportunity to ensure more time in school. Waiting until September would mean almost half a year without schooling.
“That would be to the detriment to the well being, learning progress and mental health of our young people.”
Ms Williams also said reopening schools was the best way to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
She insisted Wales had met the five principles that were needed before a return could be considered, and that the plan was the “best practical option”.
Primary schools in England started opening to more pupils on Monday.
But a survey by the National Education Union (NEU) suggests more than two in five schools did not open their doors to more children on the first day of the eased lockdown.
Some 44% of schools did not open to any of the year groups suggested by the government – including nursery, reception, year one and year six.
Scotland has said its schools will return in August, while some Northern Irish pupils will also return later that month, with the remainder coming back under a phased return.
(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Wales to open all schools on 29 June for four-week term
