SCHOOLS in Denbighshire will end face-to-face learning on Friday due to rising cases of Covid-19 nationally.

Denbighshire County Council, following discussions with headteachers, is informing parents that face-to face learning in the county’s schools will finish at the end of the school day on December 17.

The decision has been made today (Monday, December 13) to give parents as much notice as possible.

Remote learning will continue until the end of the day on Tuesday, December 21, which is the last day of term.

The decision has been taken to protect pupils and staff after the UK Government’s move to Alert Level 4, which states transmission is high and direct Covid-19 pressure on healthcare services is widespread.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, council’s lead member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: “We have been working closely with our schools and have taken this difficult decision now to give parents as much notice as possible of the end of face-to-face learning on Friday.

"With the emergence of the Omicron variant, rising case numbers across the UK and the change in alert level, we are doing everything we can to protect pupils and school staff.

“Online learning will continue on Monday and Tuesday (December 20 and 21) up to the end of term.

“I would like to once again thank all of our teachers for their continued dedication during this difficult time, pupils for their support for helping control the virus at school sites and parents for taking their children for tests when requested by Test, Trace and Protect.

“Despite the difficulties in continuing education during the pandemic, everyone involved has given their all to ensure our children get the very best education possible.”