Plan to extend term for schools return hits difficulties

There’s confusion over an important part of the Welsh Government’s plan for a partial reopening of schools with several local authorities deciding not to extend the current term by an extra week.

It means pupils in different parts of Wales will end the term on different dates.

A phased return to schools is due to begin on June 29th with staggered attendance being offered to all age groups as a way of allowing pupils to ‘check in, catch up and prepare’ before the summer holidays.

Part of the Education Minister’s plan involved adding an extra week to the current term, meaning schools would start the summer break on July 24th rather than July 17th.

That plan hit problems this week when the Unison union which represents support staff such as cleaners, caterers and teaching assistants published the results of a survey in which more than 3800 members expressed concerns about safety provisions.

In response the Welsh Government insisted it never intended to impose the extra week and left the decision to local education authorities and individual schools based on the staffing levels likely to be available to them.

Now local authorities have begun announcing their plans.

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Cardiff, Caerphilly, Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, and Wrexham councils have all dropped the plan to extend term by an extra week. Their schools will open for staggered attendance by pupils on June 29th and close again on July 17th.

So far only Conwy and Carmarthenshire councils have confirmed that their schools will open for the four week period.

Pupils on Anglesey won’t return to school at all before the summer as the council copes with a coronavirus outbreak on the island.

The Welsh Government is putting a brave face on the decisions. A spokesperson said:

The union which represents head teachers and school leaders, NAHT Cymru has criticised the ‘confusion.’ Its General Secretary Paul Whiteman says ‘NAHT saw much of the minister’s plan as a pragmatic attempt to move the situation forward for learners. What matters now is that we quickly identify a consensus that supports education.’

I understand that the Welsh Government will continue talks with local authorities and unions over the coming days so the plans may go through further changes.

There won’t be any change to the overall plan though. The First Minister confirmed again today that schools will definitely reopen, albeit in a phased way, on June 29th