Thousands of children are missing school every day across Wales - with an average one in 10 off as Covid continues to disrupt education, latest Welsh Government data shows.
Whole classes were shut and pupils returned to remote learning in some areas in the last week, but the First Minister has said the start of the school term has been "easier than expected".
Some schools have had more than one in 10 staff off with Covid. Cases among staff and pupils have ranged from between just over 1,600 to 1,500 each week of this term, separate data from Public Health Wales shows.
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Although PHW has not provided a break down it is understood most schools cases are in primary rather than secondary schools.
Attendance is worst in key exam years amid continuing concern about whether holding exams this summer will be fair.
Monmouthshire and Gwynedd councils reported some classes had been closed in the last week because of Covid.
WalesOnline asked all 22 councils how many staff and pupils were off with the virus and whether any returned to remote learning, but only a handful responded. It is understood classes have closed and children returned to online learning in other areas too.
The Welsh Government said in the week ending January 14 some learners moved to remote learning for short periods, but it was not aware of any schools having to fully close.
An update on schools guidance will be given next week by Education Minister Jeremy Miles but it is expected masks will continue to be required.
Schools Covid cases
Cases rose slightly in 11 of the 22 local education authority areas in the six days to January 19 despite a general fall in cases in the community as the Omicron wave peaks.
Wales’ largest local authority Cardiff saw the highest total number of school Covid cases and the sharpest rise in the six days to January 19 - up 40 cases to 184. Newport schools saw the second biggest rise up 32 to 163 cases.
Carmarthenshire reported 108 schools cases but that was a drop of 52 on the previous week.
The smallest number of schools cases was in Gwynedd with 16.
In total there have been 4,806 schools Covid cases in the 21 days to January 19, coinciding with the end of the Christmas holidays and the start of term. Some pupils went back on January 6 but others not until January 11.
This is how many children have missed school, according to the Welsh Government
- An average of 90.2% of pupils attended school over the week of 10 January to 14, the highest rate since the first week of the academic year.
- An average 2.7% of all pupils were absent due to a known Covid related reason over the week of January 10 to 14. That includes pupils with Covid.
- An average 2.7% of all primary pupils were absent due to a known Covid related reason between 10 January and 14, including pupils with Covid.
- An average 2.8% of all secondary pupils were absent due to a known Covid related reason between 10 January and 14 January 2022, including pupils with Covid.
- Amongst statutory school age pupils over the week of 10 January to 14 January 2022, the percentage of pupils in attendance was highest for pupils in Year Three (92.6%) and lowest for pupils in GCSE Year 11 (86.7%).
- The most common reason for sessions missed during the week of 10 January to 14 January 2022 was illness with 3% of sessions missed for this reason. That does not include children ill with Covid.
Find out about coronavirus cases in your area:
Pupil attendance rates by school year January 10-14
Reception - 92.1%
Year 1 - 92.4%
Year 2 - 92.4%
Year 3 - 92.6%
Year 4 - 92.5%
Year 5 - 92.1%
Year 6 - 92.2%
Year 7 - 90.9%
Year 8 - 89.3%
Year 9 - 88.1%
Year 10 - 88.1%
Year 11 - 86.7%
Year 12 - 84.1%
Year 13 - 76.6%
WalesOnline asked all 22 councils how much schools had been impacted by Covid. These are the replies from those which responded:
Monmouthshire as of Jan 21 - two classes closed
71 school staff absent (5% of total staff) including 15 teachers (2.4%)
No pupils remote learning
298 pupils absent (2.7%)
No schools closed to Covid but two classes closed to Covid.
Gwynedd as of January 21
Gwynedd has 94 schools. One class closed and some classes at four schools remote learning.
A council spokesman said: “Whenever significant cases of Covid-19 are identified among pupils or staff of any school, robust arrangements are put in place to control the chain of transmission. These arrangement allow us to target where incidents occur. We are confident in this targeted approach which has been endorsed by public health experts on the Gwynedd protection and surveillance group.
“By following this procedure, we are able to manage any clusters of cases and keep pupils, and the rest of the population of Gwynedd safe from the effects of Covid-19.
“Whilst figures vary from day to day, we can report that one class in a Gwynedd school has been closed today (January 21) due to staff shortages and four schools have made use of temporary distance learning for some of their classes due to the number of confirmed cases.”
Caerphilly
Caerphilly Council has reported just over 5% staff absences between January 17 and 20.
Staff absent:
- January 17: 127 of these 108 were confirmed Covid cases and 19 Covid-related or “other”
- January 18: 133 of these 115 were confirmed Covid cases and 18 Covid-related or “other”
- January 19: 137 of these 111 were confirmed Covid cases and 26 Covid-related or “other”
- January 20: 129 of these 106 were confirmed Covid cases and 23 Covid-related or “other”
Ceredigion
A council spokesman said: “Whilst we will not share specific details regarding individual schools and staff absences, we can confirm that any positive cases related to school pupils and staff are dealt with by the local Test, Trace and Protect (TTP) teams.”
Anglesey
The council said: “We do not publish local information regarding school absences, either staff or learners. No school is closed due to Covid and they continue to offer education provision.”
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire County Council's education cabinet member Glynog Davies said: “We will not be sharing specific details regarding individual school absentee numbers for staff or pupils due to resources and it varying on a day to day basis, however, we have contingency plans in place to deal with any eventuality.
“We continue to urge all school staff and secondary school pupils to take regular lateral flow tests and anyone testing positive or displaying any Covid-19 symptoms stays at home. Those with symptoms should follow the relevant guidelines to help keep themselves and those around them safe.”
The Welsh Government responds
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “We will continue to take appropriate measures to ensure that face-to-face teaching is prioritised.
"Decisions to reduce Covid protections will be taken in taken in accordance with the latest data. The Education and Welsh Language Minister will be making a further announcement next week.”
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