08 January 2021
UCAC teachers’ union has welcomed the decision announced today by Welsh Government that schools and colleges should not return to face-to-face teaching for the time being.
Dilwyn Roberts-Young, General Secretary of UCAC said “This decision is based on medical evidence, and keeps to the Education Minister’s key principle that ‘evidence and information’ is the only way to secure ‘the confidence of parents, staff and students’.
03 January 2021
Joint letter to Welsh Government from trade unions and associations representing school staff expressing concerns about the return to school arrangements.
03 January 2021
Letter to Welsh Government stating that it is not reasonable to expect school staff to organise, run and staff Covid testing centres, whilst also providing education and essential pastoral support.
11 December 2020
UCAC welcomes the Welsh Government's decision to move Welsh secondary schools and colleges to online learning from Monday, 14 December onwards as part of the 'national effort to reduce coronavirus transmission'. It is a wise decision which responds to the concerns raised by UCAC and responds to the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.
However, we are disappointed that a similar decision has not been made at a national level for the primary sector. The result is inconsistency and uncertainty across Wales with local authority arrangements.
25 November 2020
Education union, UCAC has written to the Minister for Education today asking her to consider the options available to reduce the risk of pupils and staff having to self-isolate over Christmas. One option would be to close schools and further education college sites on Friday 11 December with distance learning put in place for the last week of term.
Dilwyn Roberts-Young, General Secretary of UCAC said “UCAC members have responded to a questionnaire over the weekend with 75% of responses in favour of distance learning for the last week of term before Christmas, in order to safeguard learners and staff.