Teaching unions calls for face-to-face classes in Wales to be delayed for at least two weeks

A leading teaching union has urged for the return of face-to-face classes in Wales to be delayed for at least two weeks.

The National Education Union (NEU) Cymru have also called for masks to be worn inside classrooms as well as the existing rules requiring those aged 11 and over to wear them in corridors and on public transport.

The union is the latest to raise concerns over plans for a phased return to teaching in school from as early as Wednesday.

On Saturday the NASUWT warned it “will not hesitate” to take action in order to protect staff from a new, more contagious, strain of Covid-19.

Three unions – NASUWT, NAHT Cymru and NEU Cymru – have explicitly asked for the full re-opening of schools to be delayed in Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has since defended the Welsh Government’s decision, maintaining a flexible approach to face-to-face learning after the Christmas break is the best way to ensure a “safe return”.

But executive members of the NEU Cymru have said that by delaying the start of face-to-face teaching by two weeks it would allow scientists time to assess whether the new strain of coronavirus has a different impact on children.

Find out the number of coronavirus cases where you live here:

Neil Foden and Hannah O’Neill, executive members of the NEU, said: “NEU Cymru has asked the education minister to delay the start of face-to-face learning for the first two weeks of January at least in order that the scientists have time to assess the situation here in Wales with regards to Covid-19 and the new variant. We are in a different position than we were at the end of the autumn term, and believe this is a sensible approach to ensure that we put everyone’s safety and wellbeing first.

“As educators our members will not be making decisions about returning to the classroom lightly. Whilst we believe that Covid-19 does not have such a big impact on children and young people we have little evidence on the new variant. We know too that young people live in families and communities and it is important that we act now to keep everyone as safe as we can.”

In a joint letter addressed to the Welsh Government, nine teaching unions have raised their concerns about the phased return of schools in Wales.

The letter described the groups as “extremely worried” about the current situation and urged Mr Drakeford to “err on the side of caution”.

They added: “Given that all of Wales is in Level 4, we are of the opinion that there should be a centralised, coherent response from Welsh Government regarding all educational settings, rather than leaving decisions at local level.”

The letter was signed by ASCL Cymru, GMB, NASUWT Cymru, NAHT Cymru, NEU Cymru, Ucac, Unison, Unite, and Voice.

A head teacher based in Wales, who asked to remain anonymous, told WalesOnline on Sunday: “I appreciate that unions are trying to help but the timing is awful and causes so much anxiety. As head teachers we have to stay positive to support our staff and help them to not be anxious but there’s no support for us. I’ve been quite opinionated on the school opening situation until now but now I’m exhausted and just want someone to tell me what to do and stick with it.”

Previously Andrew Morgan, leader of the Welsh Local Government Association and leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council, said he understood most other councils in Wales will also decide not to re-open schools for in-person learning other than for vulnerable pupils or children of key workers, which is the approach being taken in RCT. In Rhondda Cynon Taf alone more than 84 school staff in the borough are now shielding.

Laura Doel, director of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, has also joined the criticism surrounding the start of the school term, stressing there was “no solid evidence” around the new Covid strain and its impact on schools.

Mr Foden and Ms O’Neill added: “When schools and colleges do go back we need to see masks being worn inside the classrooms. We also need to prioritise the vaccine for education staff.

“They are working in close proximity to children and young people so keeping teachers and support staff safe should be a priority. This year has been challenging for everyone in education and as we all reflect on what 2021 will bring safety and wellbeing must remain central to our approach here in Wales.”

In a tweet on Sunday education minister Kirsty Williams said while some schools will open next week the majority will open by January 18 with remote learning until then.

She added: “We agreed before Christmas a flexible return to school in January so that local decisions can be made based on local circumstances.

“We continue to monitor and publish the latest evidence and our science advisory group TAG meets again this week. As ever you will hear any updates directly from me.”

Defending his decision Mr Drakeford said the current arrangements allow schools to carry out a flexible return to teaching.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales he said: “We have reached an agreement with our local education colleagues that in Wales we will have a phased and flexible return to school.

“That means that over the first two weeks there will be flexibility for local authorities and head teachers to assess the situation in their individual contexts – to see how many teachers have themselves been affected by the virus, for example, and then to phase a return in a way that is safe but which also continues to place a priority on the needs of our young people whose lives have been so badly disrupted.”

When asked directly if the Welsh Government should take a country-wide approach to re-opening schools, rather than leave decisions up to individual councils, the First Minister said: “There is no evidence that young people get the illness more severely as a result of the (new) variant.

“Our technical advisory group will be looking at all the evidence again early next week and of course we will continue to make decisions in the light of the best knowledge, research and information that’s available to us at the time.

“But as a government we will not lose sight of the fact that we have a generation of young people here in Wales whose lives have been so badly disrupted in 2020, whose education needs to be put back on track and it is their needs that we will continue to have at the forefront of our minds as we organise with our colleagues a safe return to school.”