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Coronavirus: Schools in Wales all closing by Friday Coronavirus: Schools in Wales all closing by Friday
(32 minutes later)
All schools in Wales will close by Friday at the latest in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the Welsh Government has announced.All schools in Wales will close by Friday at the latest in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the Welsh Government has announced.
The country's Education Minister Kirsty Williams said she was bringing forward the Easter break.The country's Education Minister Kirsty Williams said she was bringing forward the Easter break.
All school exams this summer have been cancelled, she confirmed.
It comes as England and Scotland took similar steps with all schools and nurseries closing from the end of the week and may not reopen before summer.It comes as England and Scotland took similar steps with all schools and nurseries closing from the end of the week and may not reopen before summer.
There are an estimated 200,000 cases of coronavirus across the globe.There are an estimated 200,000 cases of coronavirus across the globe.
"Today's decision will help ensure an orderly closure, so schools have time to prepare," said Ms Williams."Today's decision will help ensure an orderly closure, so schools have time to prepare," said Ms Williams.
"Children will be off for four weeks but I have to be clear with parents, I am not anticipating we will be able to get schools back to normal at the end of the Easter break [or] for a considerable period of time.""Children will be off for four weeks but I have to be clear with parents, I am not anticipating we will be able to get schools back to normal at the end of the Easter break [or] for a considerable period of time."
Ms Williams also said she did not expect this summer's exams to go ahead but was hoping for an announcement "as soon as possible". Ms Williams also said this summer's exams would not go ahead with GCSE (year 11) and A-level (year 13) students to be graded on the work already completed..
One option being considered is grading GCSE (year 11) and A-level (year 13) students on the work already completed through their existing assessments. "We recognise there are no easy choices but we have agreed that the best way forward is not to proceed with summer exam series," she said.
"Fairness and equity for young people must be at the heart of any decision," she added. "Learners due to sit their GCSEs and A-levels this summer will be awarded a fair grade to recognise their work, drawing on the range of information that is available."
The performance of individual schools will also not be measured by the results.
Childcare centres are expected to remain open until advice is given to close them.Childcare centres are expected to remain open until advice is given to close them.
Headteachers body NAHT Cymru welcomed the announcement and said details of how schools can support vulnerable children and children of key workers were "yet to be finalised".Headteachers body NAHT Cymru welcomed the announcement and said details of how schools can support vulnerable children and children of key workers were "yet to be finalised".
Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, said it was "the right decision at the right time". Eithne Hughes, director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, said it was "the right decision at the right time".
The announcement was made almost simultaneously with the Scottish Government's decision that schools are expected to shut by the end of the week.The announcement was made almost simultaneously with the Scottish Government's decision that schools are expected to shut by the end of the week.
England then followed with a similar closure until further notice,England then followed with a similar closure until further notice,
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said schools would close except for the children of keyworkers such as NHS staff and vulnerable children.Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said schools would close except for the children of keyworkers such as NHS staff and vulnerable children.
Ms Williams said from next week, schools would have a "new purpose".Ms Williams said from next week, schools would have a "new purpose".
"They will help support those most in need, including people involved in the immediate response to the coronavirus outbreak," she added."They will help support those most in need, including people involved in the immediate response to the coronavirus outbreak," she added.
"I am working with my colleagues in the cabinet, with government officials and our partners in local government to develop and finalise these plans.""I am working with my colleagues in the cabinet, with government officials and our partners in local government to develop and finalise these plans."
After the announcement, Ms Williams told the Senedd that it was not her expectation that every school would open and be functional at the end of the Easter recess.After the announcement, Ms Williams told the Senedd that it was not her expectation that every school would open and be functional at the end of the Easter recess.
"Clearly we will be keeping that situation under constant review," she said."Clearly we will be keeping that situation under constant review," she said.
Ms Williams told AMs that she was aware of the "stress and anxiety" school closures would have on young people and teachers currently preparing for exams. Ms Williams told AMs that she was aware of the "stress and anxiety" the uncertainty had caused young people and teachers.
She said she had discussed the issue with her ministerial counterparts in England and Scotland and "all three of us are grappling with the same issue".She said she had discussed the issue with her ministerial counterparts in England and Scotland and "all three of us are grappling with the same issue".
Plaid Cymru's education spokesperson Sian Gwenllian said further clarity was needed, alongside clear guidelines from the education minister on the short-term role of schools.Plaid Cymru's education spokesperson Sian Gwenllian said further clarity was needed, alongside clear guidelines from the education minister on the short-term role of schools.
She called for GCSE and A Level exams to be scrapped, postponed or adapted, with the aim of holding them in the autumn or coming to another arrangement.She called for GCSE and A Level exams to be scrapped, postponed or adapted, with the aim of holding them in the autumn or coming to another arrangement.
Conservative shadow education minister Suzy Davies said the worrying question was whether schools would be able to reopen after Easter, adding it looked "unlikely".Conservative shadow education minister Suzy Davies said the worrying question was whether schools would be able to reopen after Easter, adding it looked "unlikely".
"Schools will continue to offer educational and social support to some children, and this is to be welcomed," she added."Schools will continue to offer educational and social support to some children, and this is to be welcomed," she added.
But she also wanted more information about when the questions around exams would be answered.But she also wanted more information about when the questions around exams would be answered.
EASY STEPS: How to keep safeEASY STEPS: How to keep safe