OPINIONS have been divided on the decision to close all UK schools and cancel summer exams.

The Leader previously reported that Education Minister Kirsty Williams announced all schools in Wales will be closed from Friday due to the coronavirus outbreak.

It was shortly announced all UK schools would close for the foreseeable and summer 2020 exams will be cancelled.

However, some Leader readers were outraged at the idea of exams being cancelled and children missing out on the end goal from all their hard work.

Lona Marie Jones said: “My daughter is distraught about this. She's worried they'll use Mock results which weren't the best and she's been revising her socks off to get her expected grades.”

Samantha Louise Tovey said: “Absolutely shocking. My daughter has had time off due to mental health and if she sat her GCSE’s she would definitely get a higher grade than it being based on previous work.”

Katie Jarvis added: “How will this work? My son has been working really hard revising in school, after school revision clubs and also at home to better his grades. Children who are trying to better their grade will get a lesser grade this way surely?”

Some parents have suggested a postponement rather than a cancellation.

Janine Blaze said: “Exams should not be cancelled just delayed people will miss out on getting the grades to go to uni/college without and that’s not fair on those that have worked so hard to improve themselves ,it’s very unfair will affect them for the rest of their lives for something g that’s not their fault.”

Louise Williams Was Sutcliffe said: “I don’t think this is a fair option I understand it’s beyond anyone’s control but surely there has to be a better option missing extremely important exams based on predictions.”

It is not yet known how long schools will be closed for – with speculation suggesting they will be closed until September.

However, some parents have backed the decision to close schools which would protect those most at risk and reduce the spreading of the illness.

Alexia Carrington said: “I think they have done the right thing. I am classed as high risk and I am extremely worried. They shut the high school on Wednesday, but my youngest school is still open with the last day on Friday. I kept her off. Let’s keep the teachers and children safe.”

Jayne Connolly said: “Yes it's the right thing to do and yes it will leave people in some hard situations but it’s necessary to contain this virus.

“I believe the country should be on lockdown. Shops, pharmacies etc should operate on a 9-5 basis to keep contact down to a minimum. Follow the Italians I say 6pm -6am curfew. This would give supermarkets the chance to fill shelves.”

However, some people say this move has been made too late.

Matt Gregory added: “I believe that the schools are going to be kept open by skeleton crews of teachers and other staff for children of those parents continuing to work in the public services.

“Does this not pose a greater and foreseeable risk to those teachers and staff because there will be an increased likelihood of those children being exposed to the virus from their parents when they are actually in their company.

“The public service personnel will have a greater exposure to the virus and transfer of the virus will be more likely. This is more likely to transfer to the teachers and staff at schools and thus more likely to be transferred to their families etc.

“In my opinion the action which has been taken by the government has come far too late as this mass pandemic was reasonably foreseeable and public transport airports etc ought to have been shut down earlier to proactively “Prevent” the spread of the virus not reactively “contain or delay” spread of the virus when the government knew that people would inevitably die as a result of contracting this virus.”

Have you been directly affected due to the school closures or exams being cancelled? Get in touch with us and let us know!