(Title Image: BBC Wales)
The Welsh Government has announced that all schools in Wales are to close by this Friday (March 20th 2020) due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Education Minister, Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor), said that work was continuing behind the scenes to ensure some form of education can continue as well as on plans to provide support for pupils who are reliant on free school meals and those with special needs.
“The announcement I am making today will help ensure an orderly closure for schools so that they have the time to prepare. However, I am conscious that the SAGE Committee and COBR meet this afternoon, and I will, of course, be listening closely to see if advice changes and any further urgent decisions about school closures are needed.”
– Education Minister, Kirsty Williams
Childcare facilities are not currently set to close until Public Health Wales advice changes.
An announcement on the timetable for 2020’s external exams (GCSE’s and A-Levels) is due at a later date. It’s unclear at this time how long the school closure will last, but it’ll be until at least the end of the forthcoming Easter holiday – which has been brought forward as a result of the announcement.
