Covid’s restrictions on schools will be almost completely lifted and will no longer have to follow the Welsh government’s framework from Monday, it was announced.
Education Minister Jeremy Miles said schools would have to follow the same guidelines as businesses and other organizations. Currently, the only rule in Wales is for people to wear masks in healthcare facilities. It also refunds fines for parents whose children miss school – see more here.
Since September last year, schools have been implementing Covid measures based on local circumstances, using a framework developed for schools. From now on, schools will no longer be advised to use the framework, as the Welsh government says the risk of coronavirus is now seen in the same context as other infectious diseases, such as influenza. Find out more about the new school system here.
It was also decided to have an exemption for people who have to take their exams but who have a positive test. Mr Miles said: “The Minister of Health and I have agreed on an exception for those who have recently tested positive but are feeling well enough to take the test. period of isolation. If both tests are negative and feel good enough, they may take the exam on day 4 after the initial positive test. “
The WJEC Examination Board will also publish guidelines on special “inevitable” considerations. The exam schedule is designed so that the exams are 10 days apart, so that an individual student who has passed the Covid-19 test will miss only one component of their qualification. WJEC will soon publish guidelines, Mr Miles said.
A review of the rules will be made later this week. Wales’ first minister, Mark Drakeford, has hinted that if public health remains stable from 9 May, the remaining rule will also be removed.
Mr Miles said schools and other educational establishments would continue to be advised to work with public health advisers and consultants to ensure that measures remain appropriate and proportionate, and a checklist would be provided to support schools and places. in assessing which control measures remain proportionate. Special schools will continue to follow the advice of children and young people at higher clinical risk and clinically extremely vulnerable adults.
Speaking at the weekly briefing of the Welsh Government, Jeremy Miles said: “In line with the broader guidelines on public health published in the last three-week review, we have written to principals today to highlight forthcoming changes to our school boards that reflect the transition from pandemic to endemic This will ensure that school leadership is more closely aligned with the rest of society.
“We all know that Covid-19 is not missing. It is vital to reduce the spread of the virus where we can – this includes, for example, following guidelines for self-isolation and for educators to continue to take serious risk assessments. “
You can see the full guidelines of the Welsh Government for schools here.
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