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.

10 November 2020 

UCAC education union has welcomed today’s announcement by the Education Minister to cancel external examinations for GCSEs, AS and A levels in the summer of 2021, and to replace them with alternative assessment arrangements.

Rebecca Williams, Deputy Secretary General and Policy Officer for UCAC said “This announcement will be a great relief for schools across Wales. Conducting external examinations in a way that is fair to pupils in the current circumstances is inconceivable and there is no guarantee that conditions will be more conducive in the summer.

“This decision means that alternative arrangements will be put in place and there will be no need to make last-minute changes, which is extremely welcome.

15 October 2020

UCAC education union is calling on the Welsh Government and local authorities to respond as a matter of urgency to the recommendations of a report by economist Luke Sibieta, 'Review of School Spending in Wales', published today (15 October).

Dilwyn Roberts-Young, General Secretary of UCAC said “In his in-depth report, Luke Sibieta addresses many of the concerns that UCAC has raised regarding school funding levels and methods.

“The system is currently characterized by severe inconsistency, lack of transparency, and an absence of strategic planning. In addition, school budgets have been falling for many years.

“We welcome the fact that these systemic problems are highlighted in the report - as is the fact that funding levels do make a difference to outcomes, especially for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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."