London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Oct 23, 2025

Covid Wales: Secondary schools 'move online' from Monday

Covid Wales: Secondary schools 'move online' from Monday

All secondary schools and further education colleges in Wales will move classes online from Monday, the education minister has announced.

Kirsty Williams said it was part of a "national effort to reduce transmission of coronavirus".

However, the Children's Commissioner for Wales has criticised the decision as disruptive to education.

A number of counties have also said primary schools will close earlier, including Cardiff and Swansea.

Ms Williams said it was important to take a "clear, national direction" to ease the pressure from schools, colleges, local councils and parents and carers.

"Every day, we are seeing more and more people admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms," she added.

"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."

She said the advice from Wales' Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton, was to implement the online learning plan "as soon as is practicable".

"Having spoken to local education leaders, I am confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place," added Ms Williams.

"This will also be important in ensuring that students are at home during this time, learning and staying safe.

"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."

The latest data shows the infection rate across Wales is averaging more than 370 cases for 100,000 people, with 17% of tests now coming back positive.

It means the reproduction (R) number in Wales has now reached 1.27, with infections doubling in 11.7 days.


The Children's Commissioner for Wales Sally Holland says she does not support closing schools early

But Children's Commissioner Sally Holland said move was "not the right decision" for children and young people in Wales and had yet to see any scientific advice to support the move.

"Whilst accepting the severity of the public health emergency and the responsibilities all of us have to keep each other safe, this decision compounds the disruption to our children's education over the last few months," she said.

Which primary schools will close early?


The announcement does not extend to primary or special schools, with the education minister "encouraging" them to remain open.

However, a number of local authorities have announced they will also be halting face-to-face learning early.

Schools in Swansea will all move to online blended learning on Monday, so Friday is the last day in the classroom for primary school pupils.

Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, parents have been sent emails telling them classrooms will close after Monday.

Carmarthenshire council has said primary and special schools will be given the choice to move to online learning or stay open from Tuesday.

Cardiff council said the final day in class will be Tuesday.

"The move is designed to enable students to remain at home in the run up to Christmas to try to halt the rise in infection rates," said a statement from Cardiff city officials on Thursday evening.

The neighbouring Vale of Glamorgan will close primary schools on Wednesday, 16 December.


Several local authorities have already announced they would shut schools early

Some local authorities had already announced plans to close schools early.

Blaenau Gwent shut classrooms on Wednesday, with infection rates in the county now standing at nearly 600 cases for 100,000 people.

In north Wales, Flintshire and Wrexham had decided to shut schools on Friday, with infection rates running at 175 and 230 cases per 100,000.

Bridgend, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils had also planned to shut early next Wednesday, 16 December.



The teaching union NAHT had called for schools in Wales to shut this Friday, and be replaced with online classes.

But the union said it was "bitterly disappointed" the move did not include primary or special schools.

"This decision ignores Welsh government's own advice on pre-isolating before seeing extended family over the Christmas holidays," said Laura Doel from the union.

"Many parents will simply vote with their feet and keep children at home anyway."

The Association of School and College Leaders has supported the Welsh Government's announcement.

"This is obviously a difficult decision but the public health advice is very clear that this needs to happen to tackle Covid infection rates in Wales and reduce transmission of the virus," said its director in Wales, Eithne Hughes.

"However, we urge the Welsh Government and local authorities to keep a close eye on the situation in primary schools and take appropriate action if needed."

The decision has also been welcomed by the National Education Union Cymru and Unison.

'Blanket approach'


But the move has been criticised by the education leader at one north Wales council.

Huw Hilditch-Roberts, of Denbighshire council, said the announcement was a "blanket approach based on what is happening in the south".

The rate of infection in the county is 101.4 per 100,000.

"Any decision to close schools should be made on the data, and the data in our area doesn't support the decision," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I feel this could result in a community spike because it will be harder to manage with more children in the community for longer."

Responding to the announcement, Plaid Cymru's education spokeswoman Siân Gwenllian said on-site provision must be made for all younger learners, and children of key workers "who can't make alternative arrangements".

She said every secondary school pupil must also have suitable devices for accessing online lessons, adding: "Accessing education through Xboxes and mobiles phones is not good enough."

The Welsh Conservatives said the decision was another instance off "confusing messages" from the Welsh Government.

"There is no doubt that the situation is grave in parts of Wales, but I would have preferred targeted interventions where needed, not another blanket ban," said their education spokeswoman in the Senedd, Suzy Davies.


Schools moving online at short-notice could be 'confusing' for students


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
×