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| Exams going ahead as freeze eases | Exams going ahead as freeze eases |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Most pupils sitting exams were able to get to their schools or colleges despite the poor weather, the assembly government says. | Most pupils sitting exams were able to get to their schools or colleges despite the poor weather, the assembly government says. |
| Around 160 schools were fully or partially closured on Monday, but those holding external exams opened to the affected GCSE and A-level pupils. | Around 160 schools were fully or partially closured on Monday, but those holding external exams opened to the affected GCSE and A-level pupils. |
| It is understood all centres in Wales were able to provide accommodation for candidates to take the exams. | It is understood all centres in Wales were able to provide accommodation for candidates to take the exams. |
| Examining bodies ruled out postponing them because of the snow and ice. | Examining bodies ruled out postponing them because of the snow and ice. |
| WEATHER LOOK-AHEAD | WEATHER LOOK-AHEAD |
| Derek Brockway, BBC Wales weather forecaster | Derek Brockway, BBC Wales weather forecaster |
| The big freeze of 2010 has loosened its grip slightly with a slow thaw of lying snow but we are not out of the woods yet. | The big freeze of 2010 has loosened its grip slightly with a slow thaw of lying snow but we are not out of the woods yet. |
| More snow is expected on Tuesday afternoon, overnight and into Wednesday. | More snow is expected on Tuesday afternoon, overnight and into Wednesday. |
| Some heavy falls are likely too with drifting in strong winds. | Some heavy falls are likely too with drifting in strong winds. |
| At the moment it looks like mid and south Wales will bear the brunt of it. | At the moment it looks like mid and south Wales will bear the brunt of it. |
| But north Wales is also likely to see some snow on Wednesday. | But north Wales is also likely to see some snow on Wednesday. |
| It looks like it will become less cold at the end of the week with some rain on Friday and Saturday. | It looks like it will become less cold at the end of the week with some rain on Friday and Saturday. |
| However, it is possible the cold weather could return later in the month. | However, it is possible the cold weather could return later in the month. |
| Derek's blog looks at heavy snowfall in previous years | Derek's blog looks at heavy snowfall in previous years |
| Students who cannot get to their exams will have to sit them in the summer. | |
| More bad weather could be on the way with the Met Office warning of a high risk of snow affecting southern and central Wales during Tuesday afternoon and early on Wednesday. | |
| There were school closures - and some partial closures - across the country, with worst affected counties on Monday including Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire, Merthyr, Powys and Rhondda Cynon Taf. | There were school closures - and some partial closures - across the country, with worst affected counties on Monday including Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire, Merthyr, Powys and Rhondda Cynon Taf. |
| However, the closures was a fraction of the total on days last week, when over 1,000 schools closed. | However, the closures was a fraction of the total on days last week, when over 1,000 schools closed. |
| Education minister Leighton Andrews said: "Students should make all reasonable efforts to get to their examinations as, for reasons of security and fairness, the regulations do not allow candidates to take a paper at a later date that has already been sat by other candidates." class="inlineText" href="/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8451925.stm">School closures in Wales on Tuesday | |
| A snow woman outside Abergwili Primary School, Carmarthenshire | |
| He said a range of options for exam centres, which are unable to proceed with scheduled exams in severe weather, have been considered and guidance would be available. | He said a range of options for exam centres, which are unable to proceed with scheduled exams in severe weather, have been considered and guidance would be available. |
| This includes sitting papers in June or special consideration being shown to students. | This includes sitting papers in June or special consideration being shown to students. |
| In Merthyr Tydfil, exams for students who attend Afon Taf High School, Bishop Hedley High School, Cyfarthfa High School and Penydre High School took place at a temporary examination centre in Merthyr Tydfil College in the town centre on Monday. | In Merthyr Tydfil, exams for students who attend Afon Taf High School, Bishop Hedley High School, Cyfarthfa High School and Penydre High School took place at a temporary examination centre in Merthyr Tydfil College in the town centre on Monday. |
| From Tuesday to Friday, the location will change to Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre. | From Tuesday to Friday, the location will change to Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre. |
| The assembly government said: "As far as we can ascertain, all centres in Wales were able to provide accommodation for candidates to take exams. | The assembly government said: "As far as we can ascertain, all centres in Wales were able to provide accommodation for candidates to take exams. |
| Sports reporter Claire Summers went snow skiing at Torfaen ski club's dry slope | |
| "The information from some of the worst affected areas, including Ceredigion and Merthyr Tydfil, suggests that virtually all candidates were able to attend today." | "The information from some of the worst affected areas, including Ceredigion and Merthyr Tydfil, suggests that virtually all candidates were able to attend today." |
| School closures are already being announced for Tuesday, 12 January, including Ysgol y Plas at Llanelian near Colwyn Bay. | School closures are already being announced for Tuesday, 12 January, including Ysgol y Plas at Llanelian near Colwyn Bay. |
| St John Baptist Church in Wales High School in Aberdare, Cynon Valley, will only be open to staff and pupils in years 10, 11, 12 and 13. | St John Baptist Church in Wales High School in Aberdare, Cynon Valley, will only be open to staff and pupils in years 10, 11, 12 and 13. |
| Some local authorities were expecting to run out of gritting salt over the weekend and are now concentrating on treating essential main roads. | Some local authorities were expecting to run out of gritting salt over the weekend and are now concentrating on treating essential main roads. |
| Serenity and a snowman in Newport | Serenity and a snowman in Newport |
| Pembrokeshire, which said it only had a few days of grit left, is expecting to receive additional supplies of salt from a depot in Cheshire which has diverted a planned delivery to Germany to hard-pressed local authorities in the UK. | |
| The council is one of a handful of local authorities in the UK to receive the evaporated salt, which will be mixed with grit before being spread on roads. | The council is one of a handful of local authorities in the UK to receive the evaporated salt, which will be mixed with grit before being spread on roads. |
| Denbighshire Council said a pavement had been gritted, where an 88-year-old man is believed to have fallen and died in icy conditions. | Denbighshire Council said a pavement had been gritted, where an 88-year-old man is believed to have fallen and died in icy conditions. |
| Giuseppe Terzo, known locally as Joe, was found unconscious on Friday in Clwyd Street, Ruthin. | Giuseppe Terzo, known locally as Joe, was found unconscious on Friday in Clwyd Street, Ruthin. |
| In Gwynedd, the air ambulance was called in to reach a farmer with a broken leg, after concerns the ambulance crew would struggle to reach the farm near Caernarfon by road. | In Gwynedd, the air ambulance was called in to reach a farmer with a broken leg, after concerns the ambulance crew would struggle to reach the farm near Caernarfon by road. |
| Transport minister Ieuan Wyn Jones told BBC Radio Wales: "There is sufficient grit for our own purposes [to keep trunk roads clear] but we do recognise there are a number of local authorities that are under severe pressure. | Transport minister Ieuan Wyn Jones told BBC Radio Wales: "There is sufficient grit for our own purposes [to keep trunk roads clear] but we do recognise there are a number of local authorities that are under severe pressure. |
| "What we are trying to do is make sure there is an equitable distribution of grit, making sure that those authorities which need it will be able to get some of that," he added. "Where there are particular difficulties we can make available our gritting lorries to those local authorities who are in the worst position." | "What we are trying to do is make sure there is an equitable distribution of grit, making sure that those authorities which need it will be able to get some of that," he added. "Where there are particular difficulties we can make available our gritting lorries to those local authorities who are in the worst position." |
| Transport problems | Transport problems |
| A number of First Bus services in Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Cardiff were still being affected by icy side roads. | A number of First Bus services in Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Cardiff were still being affected by icy side roads. |
| Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western reported all services were running as normal. | Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western reported all services were running as normal. |
| Meanwhile, Rhondda Cynon Taf council is warning people not to ignore road closure signs for the three mountain roads it has been forced to close - Rhigos, Bwlch and Maerdy. | Meanwhile, Rhondda Cynon Taf council is warning people not to ignore road closure signs for the three mountain roads it has been forced to close - Rhigos, Bwlch and Maerdy. |
| A council spokesman said some motorists were moving the signs aside and driving through, which was not only putting themselves at risk, but also other innocent motorists who subsequently could not see the notices. | A council spokesman said some motorists were moving the signs aside and driving through, which was not only putting themselves at risk, but also other innocent motorists who subsequently could not see the notices. |
| Torfaen council is warning people to take extra care when walking in areas with overhanging icicles after some as long as 1m (3ft) were knocked down from above shops in Blaenavon. | Torfaen council is warning people to take extra care when walking in areas with overhanging icicles after some as long as 1m (3ft) were knocked down from above shops in Blaenavon. |
| Powys Council also warned of the dangers of walking on iced-over water after reports of people walking on a frozen lake in Llandrindod Wells. | Powys Council also warned of the dangers of walking on iced-over water after reports of people walking on a frozen lake in Llandrindod Wells. |
| A spokesperson said: "There is a real risk of falling through the ice into deep freezing water which can be fatal." | A spokesperson said: "There is a real risk of falling through the ice into deep freezing water which can be fatal." |