More children back in school from March 15

Powys County Council has confirmed that more children will be back in their classrooms from March 15, but many high school pupils will only be returning on a ‘rota’ basis before the Easter holiday.

With children up to Year Two already back in school, they will be joined by the rest of the primary school age groups a week on Monday.

But the confusion starts with the older children, after Minister for Education in Wales, Kirsty Williams, announced this week that secondary schools would be given the opportunity to welcome back pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9.

“I must make it clear that secondary school pupils will be returning to their school from March 15 on a rota basis. Parents and carers of secondary-aged pupils will be contacted by their school on what the arrangements will be,” said Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Portfolio for Education and Property at Powys County Council.

Parents and carers of pupils that attend special schools and pupil referral units will be contacted by their school on what the arrangement will be from March 15 until then end of term.

The council has also stated that dress code for school uniforms is relaxed until the end of term.

This is what has been shared with parents and carers today:

Primary schools

All Key Stage Two pupils (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6) will be back in school from Monday, March 15.

To prepare for their return, there will be no live online teaching on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 March. These two days will be used for blended learning with a focus on wellbeing.

Primary schools will still be open for Foundation Phase pupils and children of critical workers on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 March.

Secondary schools

There will be no live online teaching on Friday, March 12. This will be a wellbeing day for secondary school pupils.

From Monday, March 15, Years 11 and 13 and other qualification years (Years 10 and 12) will attend their school on a rota basis. This will be determined by individual schools.

There is an expectation that pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be provided with a catch-up session in the fortnight leading up to the Easter holidays. Again, this will be determined by individual schools.