Serious concerns about school capacity - on International Teachers' Day

6 October 2020

UCAC General Secretary, Dilwyn Roberts-Young has written to Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, today - International Teachers' Day - to express serious concerns about the situation facing teachers in Wales.

He said "It is absolutely clear to us that it is not practically possible for teachers to be teaching face-to-face at school, and preparing and delivering work to do at home, and online learning – whether streamed or recorded.

"There is far more capacity within the education system than school staff alone, and we are convinced that now is the time to look carefully at how best to utilise that capacity."

He referred to the key role of supply teachers, and the need to treat them fairly and with respect - and to fund schools adequately to employ them.

It was also noted how many qualified teachers work in the regional consortia, some local authorities and in Estyn.

He urged the Minister to “give serious consideration to ensuring that there is sufficient capacity to ensure consistent, seamless education for pupils for the remainder of this school term and beyond, and to ensuring that responsibility for doing so is shared in a way that is both effective and reasonable."