Covid: Wales' school pupils 'excited and nervous' about return

More pupils in Wales have been returning to the classroom for the first time since December, prompting feelings of nervousness and excitement.

All remaining primary school children, pupils in years 11 and 13 and many college students are starting back.

Those in year 10 and above are "strongly encouraged" to take rapid Covid tests twice a week.

Secondary school pupils must wear face coverings in class if social distancing is not possible.

The youngest children, aged three to seven, have been back since February.

Schools had the flexibility to bring back pupils in years 10 and 12, while offering wellbeing check-in sessions to those in years 7, 8 and 9.

The Welsh Government plans for all secondary-aged pupils to be back full-time from 12 April.

Alice, a Year 13 student at Monmouth Comprehensive School, said it was "really exciting to be back".

"It's good to have some normality back and see our friends before we leave school in May or June," she added.

"It's definitely good to be back because it's nice to see teachers again and have discussions in class as opposed to just online learning.

"But I think the process of online learning has been good in terms of resilience and independence which will probably help us all in university or jobs or next steps."

Her head teacher Hugo Hutchison said it had been a "huge effort over quite a considerable period of time".

"The main change is the masks - masks are to be worn everywhere inside the school building," he added.

"We're really well prepared for the lateral flow testing that's going to be going on for staff and for students and we're giving out the first packs for students today so that they can go home and test themselves tonight."

Finley, a Year 11 student from Rhyl, Denbighshire, earlier said he was looking forward to going back after the "massive culture shock" of learning from home.

"On reflection it's shown how much I value school and how much of an important part of my life school is," he said.

"It will be great to be back in the classroom with my mates and with the teachers.

"The difference between sitting in front of a screen for six hours a day compared to sitting in a classroom for six hours a day is immeasurable.

"It's the most excited I've ever been to visit the building to be honest, but also I'm nervous in hoping that everything goes all right."

Finley said he hoped fellow students would take up the offer of lateral flow tests.

"There'll definitely be some resistance because some people have never experienced anything like this," he said.

"At the end of the day though, if it's going to keep us all safe then it's necessary.

"I'm definitely going to take it up, if it's going to protect people that I know and my mates."

Abi, a sixth-former at Cardinal Newman Catholic School, near Pontypridd, said she had been looking forward to returning.

She said: "It's not been great sitting at the computer all day every day. It's nice to get out, have a bit of a routine again. It's not been easy doing it at home.

"It will be nice to get back in the classroom and be able to ask questions constantly to the teacher and get that interaction back."

Another sixth-former Tom said his younger brother has been nervous about returning.

But he added: "I think a lot of younger students will be but, ultimately, when they come here and realise how safe it is and the measures that are in place, I think he and others will cope just fine."

Dr Llinos Jones, head of Welsh medium comprehensive Ysgol Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen, said it had been exciting preparing for the return of the pupils.

"There has been daily communication between us as a school and the children to ensure that nothing worries them on their return," she said.

She said everyone had received their timetable for the next fortnight to give sufficient advance notice and the Covid-safe measures put in place before Christmas remained key.

Dr Jones said they were treading "very carefully" for the two weeks before the Easter holiday and were returning specific groups of pupils only.

"For the first two weeks there are no more than two years in the same day and then rising to three years by the end of the last week," she said.

She added pupils from years 7, 8 and 9 would have one whole day at the school during this period.

She said she hoped the home Covid tests would give families more confidence.

Commenting on the wider return to schools Laura Doel, director of NAHT Cymru, said the union wanted nothing more than schools to reopen for all children but only "as long as the science supports that it is safe to do so".

"The return must be sustainable to avoid further disruption to children's education, which means everyone continuing to adhere to the rules," she added.

Ms Doel also said the union remained disappointed the Welsh Government did not choose to prioritise vaccinating school staff.

Protective measures put in place in schools - including the use of face masks - will be kept "under review", the education minister said.

Speaking during Monday's press briefing, Kirsty Williams said she acknowledged the measures could "curtail that normal educational experience" but added that "as soon as the advice says that we can move away from some of them, then we will do so".

She said the small numbers of Covid cases in schools over the last month since the youngest pupils returned were "not a surprise" and health officials were advising schools on how to handle any cases.