Plans to overhaul the school year have been delayed by the Welsh government, with teaching groups branding it a “waste of time”.
The move has been welcomed by some teaching groups, who have said that plans “of this magnitude cannot be taken on a whim”. “Opinion was hugely divided on this. To ensure we get this right, we need to continue listening to and engaging with schools, teachers, unions as well as children, young people and parents on how best we can implement any changes in the future.”
Eithne Hughes, director of the Association of School and College Leaders Cymru, said: “We are relieved that this decision has been made, although calling it a ‘pause’ sounds like a face-saving exercise as it is surely pointless to go round this loop again. Laura Doel, national secretary at the National Association of Head Teachers Cymru, welcomed the delay, saying her organisation had opposed the changes from the outset.
Ms Doel said changes to holidays should “never have been a priority” and praised Ms Neagle for not pressing ahead “with a reform which would have had no benefit to learners”.He said: “We want to see the Welsh Government concentrating their efforts on supporting teachers and schools through the reform programme and working to make teaching an attractive profession for high-quality graduates.