Responding to the decision of the Welsh
Government to close schools in Wales in response to the
coronavirus emergency, Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association
of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, said:
“We fully support the decision of the Minister for
Education for the general closure of Welsh schools with provision
targeted at vulnerable children and those of key
workers.
“We now look forward to working with the Welsh Government
to identify exactly how this crucial provision will be
delivered.
“This is the right decision at the right time given the
seriousness of the situation and the pressure on schools as staff
increasingly self-isolate.
“We would like to use this opportunity to pay tribute to
the dedicated work of school leaders and their staff during this
time of crisis.
“We would also reassure the public that schools will do
everything possible to support pupils who are at home.
“Schools have already prepared learning resources for
pupils to use and will continue to stay in touch with families
through their normal communication channels.
“We await a decision on this summer’s GCSEs and A-levels
and continue to press for an announcement as a matter of
urgency.
“We will also be seeking clarification over the thinking of
the Welsh government about what will happen in the summer
term.”
