Welsh secondary schools and colleges to move online from Monday as cases rise

10 December 2020, 16:43 | Updated: 10 December 2020, 19:13

File photo: All Welsh secondary schools and colleges will move to online learning from Monday.
File photo: All Welsh secondary schools and colleges will move to online learning from Monday. Picture: PA

By Joe Cook

All Welsh secondary schools and colleges will move to online learning from Monday 14 December, as part of a "national effort to reduce transmission of coronavirus".

Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirmed the move today, describing as part of a "national effort to reduce transmission of coronavirus".

It is understood that primary schools will remain open for in-person learning.

While half of schools in Wales have had zero coronavirus cases since September, the Welsh government said education settings "can contribute to wider social mixing outside the school and college environment".

Secondary school pupils in worst affected areas to get Covid tests

The decision to move secondary school lessons online in Wales comes as English Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced immediate testing would be rolled out for 11 to 18-year-olds in London, Essex and Kent.

"We want to keep schools open because that is both right for education and for public health," Mr Hancock told a press conference on Thursday.

“We need to do everything we can to stop the spread amongst school age children right now."

He added: "We need to take targeted action immediately... we have decided to put in place an immediate plan to test all secondary school children in the seven worst affected boroughs of London, in parts of Essex that border London and in parts of Kent."

Read more: London 'has highest Covid rate in England' as concern grows over Tier 3 risk

Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams said children should be at home and not treat the move online as an early Christmas holiday.
Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams said children should be at home and not treat the move online as an early Christmas holiday. Picture: Welsh Government

Announcing the measures in Wales, Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “The virus is putting our health service under significant and sustained pressure and it is important we all make a contribution to reduce its transmission.

“I can therefore confirm that a move to online learning should be implemented for secondary school pupils and college students from Monday next week.

“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.

Read more: New Welsh coronavirus rules: Are hotels open and what are the new alcohol restrictions?

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

Ms Williams added: “Critically, and this is very important, children should be at home.

“This is not an early Christmas holiday, please do everything you can to minimise your contact with others.”

Read more: Brexit-supporting Ineos boss to build new 4x4s in France instead of Wales

Reacting to the Welsh announcement, a Department for Education spokesperson said: “Keeping schools open remains a national priority because, as the Chief Medical Officer has consistently said, not being in school damages children’s learning, development and mental health.

“The right approach to reducing the number of cases is following the protective measures in place, including secondary students wearing face coverings when travelling to and from school and in communal areas, and accessing testing where appropriate.”

Ex-Headteacher opposes English schools closing a day early for Christmas

The Welsh decision comes as the country faces a rising number of coronavirus cases, with hospitality businesses already banned from selling alcohol and forced to close at 6pm.

A second firebreak lockdown is not being ruled out by the Welsh government, as public health bosses warn it may be the only way to prevent a 'catastrophe' for the NHS at Christmas.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething told reporters on Monday that "everything is on the table" as officials try to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients.

Wales now has its highest ever number of Covid-19-related patients in hospitals with 1,800 in total, just four weeks after the end of the country's 17-day firebreak.

Latest data shows rates of Covid-19 are currently 370 per 100,000 people, with cases doubling every 11.7 days.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Jeremy Hunt has called for the Lucy Letby case to be re-examined.

Jeremy Hunt calls for Lucy Letby case to be re-examined in bombshell intervention

Exclusive
.

Driving test chaos: Learners face 23,000-strong queues as bots snap up slots and 'resell' at inflated prices

Breaking
It comes as Donald Trump has called for the "unconditional surrender" of Iran - amid escalating tensions in the Middle East

US intervention 'would be recipe for all-out war in Middle East', Iran warns, as Trump considers military action

tyler Perry arrives at the BET Awards on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Movie star Tyler Perry facing $260m lawsuit as fellow actor Derek Dixon accuses him of sexual assault

Singer Ariana Grande (L) and Marjorie 'Nonna' Grande attend the 2016 American Music Awards in Los Angeles

Ariana Grande announces death of 'beloved' grandma Nonna Marjorie at age of 99

Champions Liverpool will host Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season

Premier League fixtures 2025/26: Full list revealed as Liverpool begin title defence against Bournemouth

Ingrid Lackova, 15.

Police launch urgent hunt for missing girl, 15, not seen since Monday

The UK has a 50:50 chance of seeing temperatures soar to 40C again in the next 12 years

Heatwaves above 40C and scorching weather 'lasting over a month' the future for UK weather, says Met Office

Indonesia

Flights cancelled and villages evacuated after volcanic eruption spews 11km tower of ash into air

Penryn College's deputy headteacher is accused of having sexual relations with a former pupil.

Married deputy headteacher 'had sex with pupil, 16, in her house when dad was away', court hears

Patient receiving chemotherapy at the hospital

NHS launches new drive to find more people with deadly pancreatic cancer

Doctor injecting collagen into young womans lip

Warning over 'Wild West' treatments as procedures such as lip injections and butt lifts 'offered in public toilets'

Pamela Anderson arrives on the red carpet at the 2025 Met Gala

Pamela Anderson says filters and AI being used on photos has led to people becoming 'boring-looking'

Iran's ongoing retaliatory attacks with ballistic missiles towards Israel are seen from Tel Aviv, Israel

Trump calls for 'unconditional surrender' from Iran - as US President 'considering US strike on Iran'

A man walks past empty shelves in a branch of the Co-op in Manchester following the major cyber attack.

Major UK supermarket offering 25% off £40 shops in ‘thank you’ to members after cyber attack

Cyclists are sending a record amount of video footage to police after being overtaken too closely by motorists, new figures show.

Cyclists sending record number of videos to police after being overtaken too closely by drivers, figures show