Aim is that all pupils go back to school after Easter break, Education Minister says

Wales’ Education Minister has said that her preference is to get all learners back in school after the Easter break.

Speaking at today’s press conference she said that “I can tell you that it is my preference to get all learners back in school after that break. I promise to provide further details on how this will look when I can do so.”

The Easter break ends on 12 April.

However, the Education Minister warned that those returning to secondary schools on March 15 won’t necessarily ba back full time.

While she hoped that some key exam pupils, such as those in years 11 and 13, will return next month, not all will return to full-time on-site learning.

“Where possible, we also want to give some flexibility around other learners, such as Year 12 and those in Year 10 who may also have been entered for qualifications this summer,” she said.

“Unfortunately, for those learners in secondary settings or colleges, this won’t necessarily be a return to full-time on-site learning.

“I want to thank you all again for everything you’ve done to help keep Wales Safe, and to keep Wales learning and for creating the headroom we need to get more children and young people back in the classroom,” she said.

‘Careful’

Sending all children back to school on 12 April is likely to put Wales at odds with England, where it is expected that Boris Johnson will confirm today that children will return on 8 March.

Asked why children in Wales would return later, Kirsty Williams said that “our phased and very careful approach is in line with the public health advice I have received. It is consistent with UK wide advice.

“If there is different information available which contradicts our careful approach then, clearly, we would want to consider that.”