26 February 2021

Dear Colleagues,

I’m pleased to be writing to you on a sunny day which feels like Spring is here. It has certainly been a long and challenging winter and I think we will all welcome the start of a new season. 

Last week I mentioned the preparations that were underway for some pupils to start to return to schools and I’m pleased to say that that transition has been a success across the Vale this week.

I am very proud of all our colleagues working in all of our schools who continue to go above and beyond to support our pupils. Diolch. 

It was really pleasing to see the work of Vale schools highlighted on the national stage again this week in recognition of their efforts. I’d like to thank the headteachers and staff at Llandough Primary and Ysgol Gwaun y Nant who were happy to facilitate some excellent national media coverage of this milestone. 

The BBC visited Llandough Primary first thing on Monday and conducted interviews with staff which were broadcast live to over 5 million people across the UK on their Breakfast programme. At the same time Wales Online visited Ysgol Gwaun y Nant in Barry to see their youngest cohort of pupils returning to school. I’m proud that we have built relationships with these media outlets that allows the brilliant work that goes on in the Vale of Glamorgan to be seen on a national stage. Diolch yn fawr to all who were involved, both within our schools and also within our press and communications team.

On a similar note, I would also like to say a big well done to Anthony Cannon-Jones, a teacher at Holton Primary School, who kept a cool head and dealt with an emergency situation whilst teaching his class over Zoom this week. His heroics also made national headlines, with a piece on the BBC website  reporting on  his efforts. 

We have seen in the last year more than ever what an important role our schools play at the heart of all communities across the Vale. I’d like to give a shout out to Caroline and her team at Gladstone Primary who continue to prepare and provide food parcels to families in need of support. I know this is just one example of the ways our schools go above and beyond and would pay tribute to you all. The work you are doing is so important to support our communities whilst adhering to level four restrictions.

We continue to see a positive trend in the fall of confirmed cases of COVID-19. The latest public health Wales data shows that over the past 7 days there have been 84 confirmed cases in the Vale of Glamorgan and 62.9 cases per 100,000 of the population.  There have been 1,300 tests done this week in the Vale and of those 6.5% were positive for the virus. These are encouraging signs, but there is still some way to go yet. 

Contributing to this improving picture is the vaccination programme. Our colleagues in Cardiff and the Vale UHB are now inviting priority groups 5 (those aged 65-69) to their GP practice for their first dose of the vaccine and priority group 6 (those aged 16 – 64 with underlying health conditions) to a mass vaccination centre.  The Health Minister announced this week that the mass vaccination programme will be further accelerated with all adults will be offered a vaccine before the end of July. We’re continuing to work with our colleagues in the health board to assist with this programme being delivered quickly and safely. 

Looking ahead, we will be working with colleagues in the Welsh Government to discuss what might be included in the next review on 15 March. I regularly meet with colleagues across Wales and within Welsh Government to feed in views and evidence which can inform their thinking as we ease out of lockdown.

I will be hosting a Learning Café Question Time session next Wednesday, 3rd March. If you’d like to ask a question about the next steps for us as an organisation please book your place and you can submit your question anonymously before-hand.  A recording of the session will be available for anyone who can’t attend.

Although things are looking positive, I must ask that you continue to adhere to the level 4 restrictions and exercise within the current guidelines. Have a lovely weekend – and for those of you who enjoy your sport, let’s hope for a good result in the rugby!

Stay safe.

Diolch yn fawr,

Rob.