Education

Union calls for ‘immediate action’ to keep schools open in January

Published

4 years ago

January 3, 2022

A TEACHERS’ union is calling on the Welsh Government to “take urgent action” to reduce the potential risk of further disruption to education as a result of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The surge of Covid cases in Wales, driven by the spread of the Omicron variant, is expected to cause significant staff absence issues when schools return next week.

Some schools need to start planning for pupils to return to online learning, Wales’ first minister said last week.

Mark Drakeford said teacher and staff illness will mean some pupils returning to home learning, but decisions would be made by individual councils, rather than the Welsh government.

The NASUWT union said its members “desperately want to be able to provide face-to-face teaching for all children and young people in the next academic term without further problems caused by the pandemic.”

While NAHT Cymru Director Laura Doel said: “The availability of staff is the biggest threat to education in January. Without the workforce fit and well, learners cannot go back to the classroom.”

NAHT Cymru Director: Laura Doel (Pic: BBC Wales)

The Welsh Conservatives want the government in Wales to “follow in the footsteps” of their English counterparts and invite “an army of ex-teachers to return to classrooms” in a bid to ease any potential pressure.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said teachers have been “on the frontline throughout the pandemic to support pupils and students and provide them with the best education possible.”

“However, the rising number of cases of the Omicron variant could cause significant disruption in the next academic term with many teachers being forced to self-isolate.

“The Welsh Government must take immediate action to ensure that schools can continue to operate safely and provide high quality education.

“This is particularly important to protect disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people who have often been affected most by the pandemic.”

The NASUWT is urging the Welsh Government to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission by providing government-funded air cleaning units to every school and college that needs these devices.

They are also calling on the Welsh Government to support household close contacts to self-isolate to reduce the risk of transmission and wider disruption within schools.

The union wants the government to commit to providing schools with more resources to enable on-site Covid testing.

The NASUWT has also called for improved financial support for schools and colleges to help with the cost of supply staff to cover for Covid-related absence.

Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official for Wales, said: “Teachers, pupils and students, and parents will be concerned about the potential risk of further disruption to schools caused by the Omicron variant.

“The Welsh Government must do everything it can to prevent schools from experiencing significant staffing problems next term and further damage to the education of children and young people.”
Staff availability, biggest threat to education.
NAHT Cymru Director Laura Doel said: “The availability of staff is the biggest threat to education in January.”

“Without the workforce fit and well, learners cannot go back to the classroom.”

“If LFTs for close contacts need to be taken for 7 days there must be a supply available for schools.”

“If track and trace are supposed to support the system we must ensure they have the capacity to do so and if parents are to understand what is required of them, there must be clear communication.”

“All of these elements need to be up and running next week to ensure the return to school is the success we want it to be.”

“The pressure on TTP system is an ongoing concern and therefore we maintain that classes should be designated as contact groups for testing purposes to bring consistency across all Local Authority areas and relieve the added pressure to trace close contacts, particularly in primary schools which is extremely difficult.”

“Given that staff availability has been a key area of concerns for months, NAHT Cymru believes prioritising the workforce for booster vaccinations was an opportunity missed.”

“It is too early to tell whether the new measures announced will be enough to keep schools open in January but we welcome the reintroduction of staggered session times and the planning days that will help schools manage their local situations.”

“Remote learning will remain a last resort, with staff absence and risk levels being the determining factors, but be assured that school leaders remain committed to doing all they can to support their learners and their families.”

The Welsh Conservative shadow education minister Laura Anne Jones MS said those who are recently retired, or trained as a teacher and moved career, should be asked to consider whether they can find even a day a week for the spring term to help protect face-to-face education.

She said: “Teachers have gone above and beyond throughout the pandemic, doing an inspirational job to support their pupils and communities in the face of adversity.”

“However, the disruption to school life and extended periods at home mean pupils’ education has inevitably suffered, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

“With cases of Omicron increasing across the country we must make sure schools and colleges have the teachers available to remain open for face-to-face education.”

“We have to be prepared for the new term ahead, otherwise our children will again feel the brunt. A ‘call to arms’ such as we’ve seen from Nadhim Zahawi and the Conservatives is a great idea and one we should replicate in Wales.”

“I hope the Labour Government gets such a scheme up and running so we can increase support in the classroom and minimise disruption to our children’s education.”

Education

Teaching assistant struck off after asking pupil for photos of her body

Published

2 days ago

December 11, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A FORMER teaching assistant at Haverfordwest High School has been banned from working in education after sending highly inappropriate messages to two female pupils, including asking one girl to send him photos of her body.

Samuel Davies, who was employed at the school through apprentice agency Ap Prentis, was removed from the classroom in October 2022 when safeguarding concerns were raised. An Education Workforce Council (EWC) panel has now found his conduct to be sexually motivated and amounting to unacceptable professional behaviour.

Messages sent under false name

The panel heard that Davies contacted two mid-teen pupils on Snapchat using the name “Sam Bear Davies”. One pupil identified as Learner B received messages asking whether she felt comfortable sending him pictures. In one message he wrote: “I want to see that body and a few pics maybe?” followed by further requests for images.

Another girl identified as Pupil A accepted a friend request from the same account and was shocked to receive the message: “Oh hey, I am your teacher. Do not tell anyone, I would get into trouble, but I think you are really attractive.”

Davies also warned one of the girls not to tell anyone he had contacted her because he would “get into trouble”.

Both pupils later provided screenshots to senior staff which resulted in Davies being escorted off school grounds while an internal investigation began.

Previous concerns about boundary issues

Deputy headteacher and safeguarding lead Tracy Edwards told the hearing she had already spoken to Davies several times about his over familiar behaviour with pupils. Concerns had been raised including allegations that he offered teenagers a drag of a vape off school premises and that he had shown pupils photos of himself vaping in a school toilet. There were also reports that he had been overheard discussing pubs and clubs with under eighteens.

Although some of the earlier claims could not be verified, his behaviour escalated and a formal complaint was made once the social media messages were shared with staff.

Davies resigned from his role in January 2023. Police reviewed the matter but did not take further action.

Panel finds sexual motivation

The EWC committee found a number of allegations proven and concluded that Davies had deliberately targeted children under sixteen and that his actions were sexually motivated.

Panel chair Robert Newsome said Davies had abused his position and caused direct harm to pupils. He noted that Davies had shown no engagement with the disciplinary process, no insight and no remorse.

“This was a pattern that developed after he began his employment,” he said. “He knew what he was doing was wrong and took steps to hide it. His actions place him as a significant risk to learners.”

Davies did not attend the hearing and provided no representation. During the school’s internal investigation he denied all allegations.

Struck off indefinitely

The committee ordered that Davies be removed from the EWC register with immediate effect. He cannot apply for reinstatement for at least five years.

He has 28 days to appeal the decision to the High Court.

Community

Potential Ysgol Clydau potential closure ‘deeply concerning’

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

THE LAUNCH of a public consultation on the potential closure of Pembrokeshire school Ysgol Clydau just before Christmas has been called “deeply concerning” and unfair to local families.

At the May meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, members backed a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which included statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School and Ysgol Clydau in Tegryn.

A plea on behalf of Ysgol Clydau was previously made by Cllr Iwan Ward, local member, who said it was “the heart of our society not just a school, it’s family, a community, an anchor for children who deserve the opportunity to grow”.

He added that closure was “a disaster for the future of education locally” and was “not fair and was not moral”.

The Ysgol Clydau consultation has now been launched, on the eve of a plea to keep the school open being heard at County Hall.

A council statement accompanying the launch of the consultation says: “At its meeting on May 8, Pembrokeshire County Council considered a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which outlined the findings of a review of education provision in the Preseli area.

“In particular the review considered the extent of surplus school places in the area, set against a significant decline in the pupil population.”

A petition, opposing closure of the school, on the council’s own website, generated 648 responses, meaning it crossed the threshold to be heard at full council.

That petition call, along with a similar one for Manorbier school, which also crossed the threshold, with 1,511 signatures, is to be heard by councillors at the December 12 meeting of full council.

The Ysgol Clydau petition states: “We demand that Pembrokeshire County Council reconsider its decision to close Ysgol Clydau and instead prioritise the needs of our community by keeping the school open. We oppose the closure of Ysgol Clydau and call for full public scrutiny before any decision is made.

“We urge you to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the community, listen to our concerns, and work with us to find alternative solutions that support the needs of our children and families.”

Paul Davies MS

Local Senedd Member Paul Davies has voiced his opposition to the proposal to close Ysgol Clydau, describing the timing of the consultation—just before Christmas—as “deeply concerning” and unfair to local families.

Mr Davies also highlighted the impact that closing Ysgol Clydau would have on the local community and the Welsh language.

“Ysgol Clydau is a crucial part of the local community, and its closure would have a huge impact on the local area. It’s unacceptable that this consultation has been launched without any discussion with local stakeholders and announcing it just before Christmas is very disappointing.

Education

Paul Davies MS opposes proposed closure of Ysgol Clydau

Published

3 days ago

December 10, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Senedd Member criticises ‘deeply concerning’ timing of consultation

LOCAL Senedd Member Paul Davies has spoken out against Pembrokeshire County Council’s proposal to close Ysgol Clydau, warning that the timing of the public consultation — launched in the weeks before Christmas — is “deeply concerning” and unfair to affected families.

Mr Davies said the school plays a vital role in the community, and that any attempt to close it would have a damaging impact locally, including on efforts to promote and protect the Welsh language.

“Ysgol Clydau is a crucial part of the local community, and its closure would have a huge impact on the local area,” he said. “It’s unacceptable that this consultation has been launched without any discussion with local stakeholders, and announcing it just before Christmas is very disappointing.”

He pointed to the school’s strong record, noting that Estyn inspectors highlighted positive relationships between staff and pupils and praised a curriculum that makes purposeful use of the surrounding area to inspire curiosity.

“Closing this school would be to the detriment of local families, and it would also undermine efforts to protect and promote the Welsh language in the community,” he added.

Mr Davies urged Pembrokeshire County Council to ensure the consultation is meaningful by “genuinely listening to local voices” and working with parents, representatives and the wider school community to find a constructive way forward.