No masks in secondary schools - and the reintroduction of truancy fines

Welsh secondary school students will no longer have to wear face masks in the corridor from Monday.

The change was announced by Welsh Education Minister Jeremy Miles today. The Welsh Government says it brings schools into line with businesses and other organisations.

Schools were informed of the changes in writing this morning.

Since September last year, schools have applied measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus according to local circumstances, based on the Local Covid-19 infection control decision framework for schools.

Schools will no longer be advised to use the framework and the changes come into force from the 9th May.

Truancy fines to make a comeback:

Later in Plenary, the Minister told Senedd colleagues that education authorities will be able to issue fines to parents whose children repeatedly fail to attend school.

Its in a bid to drive up attendance which dropped after remote learning was introduced during the pandemic.

Mr Miles said the fines would only be used as a last resort:

“We remain clear that fines are only to be used in the most extreme cases as part of a range of options and when all efforts to engage with a family have been tried and have failed. And when it is evident that there are no underlying reasons impacting on attendance in school.”

The NAHT union said Covid infections were still hitting pupils and school staff hard.

NAHT Cymru Director Laura Doel said they appreciated the need to adapt to a changing situation:

“But the reality for schools is that we are still seeing significant staff and learner absence as a result of covid. NAHT Cymru has just published the results of a survey of its members investigating the number of primary school staff with covid-related absences.”

“In secondary schools and special schools, the cost is much harder to calculate given the vast numbers of staff, subject-specific teachers that are needed as well as specialist support staff.”