Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Some schools in Wales have announced closures, either temporary or longer term, as the coronavirus pandemic begins to have a wider impact.

From Friday, all schools in Wales will be closed, Wales' education minister Kirsty Williams has announced, but many schools have decided to shut their doors in advance.

A number of Swansea schools have announced they are closing, while Cardiff High School has also closed to three year groups, a primary school in Newport has closed because of staff absence and several have shut Neath Port Talbot as has Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin.

In Gwynedd, Ysgol Tryfan in Bangor, Gwynedd, has informed parents the school will only be open for years 10 and above and St Joseph's Catholic and Anglican High in Wrexham will open for years 10 and 11 - and for pupils in years 7 to 9 whose parents are NHS doctors or nurses.

A school in Merthyr, Ysgol Santes Tudful, was closed on Monday after a staff member received medical treatment for coronavirus. It reopened on Tuesday.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, Coedpenmaen Primary School was closed on Tuesday March 17 due to a suspected case. The council has since confirmed there is no case of Covid-19 and the school is open as usual.

A primary school in Carmarthenshire is closed due to a suspected case of coronavirus. Ysgol Brynsaron, around four miles south of Llandysul, shut its doors on Wednesday.

According to the Carmarthenshire school, the suspected case of coronavirus is connected to the nursery, which sits on the school’s grounds, but both buildings have been closed down.

No information has been released about whether the suspected case concerns a child, a parent or a member of staff, but parents are being advised that they will be contacted about when the school and the nursery will be in a position to reopen.

The school insists at this stage that its decision is “a precautionary measure” and that the suspected case of Covid-19 has not been confirmed.

Coronavirus in Wales updates Join our Facebook group to keep up to date with all the latest on coronavirus in Wales. You can find it here.

A spokeswoman for Ysgol Brynsaron said on Tuesday night: “We have just heard about a suspected case of Covid-19 in Alltcafan Ysgol Feithrin on the school’s site.

“As a precautionary measure, unfortunately we will have to close Ysgol Brynsaron.

“We will contact you tomorrow (Wednesday) in order to confirm Thursday’s arrangements.

“I would like to thank you for your understanding and patience during this very difficult time.”

In the Neath Port Talbot local authority area, Llangatwg Community School is closed for 'deep cleaning' today only, but will re-open tomorrow - Thursday.

Ysgol Maes Y Coed, meanwhile, is closed for the 'forseeable future' as a precautionary measure due to coronavirus concerns.

And at Cardiff High from Thursday (March 19), pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9, have been told not to attend school.

While in Newport, Millbrook Primary has closed for a number of weeks due to staff absence.

Ysgol Penweddig secondary school in Aberystwyth closed its doors on Wednesday and is undergoing a "deep clean". The decision was made after a staff member displayed symptoms of coronavirus.

A spokeswoman for Ceredigion Council said: "Ysgol Penweddig is closed today for precautionary measures. As a member of staff showed symptoms, the advice has been to close the school and deep clean today, Wednesday, March 18. It is intended to reopen the school tomorrow (March 19)."

Meanwhile, the council has also confirmed that Cei Newydd School in New Quay is closed on Wednseday and Thursday for the safety of pupils and staff, due to a lack of staff.

The decisions to close schools are being taken despite the UK Government and the Welsh Government currently keeping schools open across the UK and in Wales.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that a blanket closure of all schools was under “constant review”, and despite speculation as to when and if that occurs, there are no plans to imminently impose such measures as of Wednesday morning.

This is the full list of confirmed school closures across all 22 local authorities in Wales:

Neath Port Talbot Council

Llangatwg Community School - closed to allow for deep cleaning. The school will reopen on Thursday, March 19

Ysgol Maes Y Coed - due to coronavirus concerns the school is closed for the foreseeable future as a precautionary measure

Abbey Primary School - the early years assessment centre is closed only as a precautionary measure

Tywyn Primary School - PMLD unit closed only as a precautionary measure

Newport City Council

St Julian’s School - due to the increasing numbers of staff and students needing to self-isolate, the school is closed from Wednesday, March 18 for a period of 14 days

Milbrook Primary - closed from Wednesday, March 18, no confirmed date of reopening available

Liswerry High School - closed to year eight learners due to staffing issues caused by the coronavirus outbreak

Maindee Primary - school is closed due to staff absence, no confirmed date of reopening

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

No confirmed school closures

Coedpenmaen Primary School was closed on Tuesday March 17 due to a suspected case. The council has since confirmed there is no case of Covid-19 and the school is open as usual

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

No confirmed school closures

Bridgend County Borough Council

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd - is closed for years seven, eight and nine but open to years 10, 11, 12, and 13

Caerphilly County Borough Council

No confirmed school closures

Ceredigion County Council

Ysgol Gymunedol Cei Newydd - closed

Ysgol Penweddig - closed

Carmarthenshire County Council

No confirmed school closures

Cardiff City Council

Mary Immaculate High School - the school is closed to years seven and eight until further notice. Pupils in year nine, 10 and 11 are asked to attend as normal

Cardiff High School - the school is closed to years 7 to 9 from Thursday (link to https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/coronavirus-covid19-cardiff-high-school-17942093 )

Swansea Council

Ynystawe - the nursery is closed due to staff shortage

Ysgol Crug Glas - closed to all pupils

Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn - closed to all pupils

Maytree Autistic Unit - closed to all pupils

The Primary Education Centre (Arfryn) - closed to all pupils

Birchgrove - closed from Thursday

Cwm Glas - closed from Friday

St Thomas - closed from Monday

Trallwn - closed from Monday

Waunarlwydd - closing from nursery to year two from Monday

Conwy County Borough Council

No confirmed school closures

Denbigshire County Council

Ysgol Hellan - closed due to heating problems, school will reopen on March 19

Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin - closed to all pupils due to 23 members of staff falling into the vulnerable category with five members of staff with partners that are also very vulnerable

Flintshire County Council

Connahs Quay High School - closed to learners in year nine due to staff absence. Pupils are expected to return to school on Thursday, March 19

Castell Alun High School - closed to years seven to nine due to low staff numbers

Gwynedd Council

No confirmed school closures

Isle of Anglesey County Council

No confirmed school closures

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

No confirmed school closures

Monmouthshire County Council

No confirmed school closures

Pembrokeshire County Council

Penrhyn Church in Wales VC School - class two is closed today due to staff shortages and high levels of illness

Powys County Council

Pupil Referral Unit in mid/south Powys - closed for health and safety reasons

Torfaen County Borough Council

No confirmed school closures

Vale of Glamorgan Council







