Face coverings will no longer be required in Wales' schools from September.

Education Minister Jeremy Miles told schools today that changes were being made to how the coronavirus pandemic will be handled in Wales when the new school year begins in September.

It will see face coverings no longer routinely required in schools.

Other new measures will mean that pupils will no longer need to keep to their contact groups, with the test, trace and protect system instead helping identify close contacts of those who test positive.

And normal session times will resume.

Mr Miles said: “By the end of September all adults in Wales will have been offered both vaccinations, providing greater protection for our education workforce. A growing body of evidence also shows that children and young people are more at harm from missing school than from Covid.

“Lots of young people I have spoken to have said that they don’t believe the current system is proportionate. They just want to be treated the same as everyone else – and that sounds fair to me.”

The Local Covid-19 Infection Control Decision Framework will be published at the start of the autumn term so that schools have time to embed new systems during the weeks that follow.

The framework will enable schools and colleges to tailor some of the interventions to reflect the level of risk identified locally. They will be supported by public health officials and local authorities to ensure measures are appropriate to their circumstances.

Mr Miles added: “Before you embark on a well-earned break this summer I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for all your hard work and effort over the last academic year.

"I hope the break will offer you, and your staff, a chance to look back over the last year with immense pride – you have shown immeasurable determination and resilience in supporting learning and keeping education settings as covid-secure as possible.”