Nearly 18,000 children absent from Welsh schools last week due to Covid
New figures show nearly 18,000 school pupils missed school last week due to a Covid-19 related reason.
Out of Wales' 353,905 pupils signed up for schools, an average of 5% of pupils were absent "as a result of known Covid-19 related reason" between June 28 and July 2, based on Welsh Government data published on Wednesday, July 7.
This compares to 641,200 pupils in England who have been sent home from school for coronavirus-related reasons.
There has been pressure for Welsh Government to alter the guidelines around contact bubbles after numerous cases of children being told to go home because someone within their bubble has tested positive. Critics say whole year groups are being sent home if not all were necessarily a detailed contact of the confirmed case.
The Welsh Government has stated that any decision on ending 'contact bubbles' in schools will be produced by education minister Jeremy Miles, hopefully by the end of term. However, school leaders said they had concerns about the plans.
In England, education secretary Gavin Williamson has stated that from August 16 pupils will no longer need to self isolate if they're a detailed contact of somebody who tests positive for coronavirus.
In total, an average of 84% of all pupils were present in school within the week of 28 June to 2 July. The same figure for the week before – June 21 to June 25 – was 87%.
The proportion of pupils present was highest for pupils in Year 3 (91%). Among Year 11 and Year 13 pupils attendance dropped to 9% and 23% respectively because these pupils have completely finished their school terms. On the amount of children off school.
There was little difference between the percentage of girls and boys present in school, the figures show.
This week, education minister Jeremy Miles has said that secondary schools will be able to delay the rollout from the new curriculum for Wales due to pressures caused by coronavirus. That just applies to secondary schools, not for younger children.
Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers' Union, said: "The NASUWT has been calling for the introduction of the new Curriculum for Wales to be postponed until at least September 2023.
"We have been warning that teachers haven't had sufficient time to organize for that new curriculum due to the Coronavirus pandemic which is welcome the minister has listened to our concerns and the concerns of teachers and school leaders.
"However, teachers working in primary schools have also faced exceptional challenges during the last 18 months and the NASUWT believes it might make more sense to place the whole process of implementing the brand new curriculum on hold at the moment to match all schools to focus on education recovery.
“Staff employed in primary schools are entitled to wonder why they are being likely to carry on regardless.”
Dilwyn Roberts-Young, UCAC general secretary, said: "We welcome the adjustment towards the timetable as a sensible compromise. UCAC has a tendency to agree that the primary sector is, generally, better placed to proceed according to the original timetable, while an extra year for secondary schools can be really much appreciated."
