Coronavirus: Schools eye GCSE and A-level preparation

School and colleges in Wales remain open amid the coronavirus pandemic, but concerns remain about the effect it could have on exams.

Meanwhile, Public Health Wales (PHW) reported 13 new cases, taking the total to 38, including first cases in Anglesey and Flintshire.

Exams watchdog Qualifications Wales said those sitting GCSEs and A-levels should keep working towards them.

One head said she is making online learning available for pupils at home.

The Welsh Government said the "clear advice" was schools should stay open at the moment, but that could change.

At Bishop Hedley Catholic High School in Merthyr Tydfil, they have been reinforcing messages around hygiene for staff and students and have placed hand sanitisers at every till point in the canteen at lunchtime.

Head teacher Sarah Hopkins said pupils had "taken it in their stride", but there was concern about what would happen for those preparing for GCSEs.

A total of 945 people have now been tested.

"All patients are being managed in clinically appropriate settings based on the assessment of a specialist infectious disease consultant," said Dr Robin Howe, PHW incident director.

·The school already uses Google Classroom for teaching so pupils can learn at home and get immediate feedback online.

"I've asked staff to make sure that there is a bank of resources readily available should we be in a position where we have to have enforced closure," she said.

"Staff are used to setting work remotely for learners, especially if they've got an illness and they can't get to school, or they're using it for revision purposes for key stage four [GCSE] classes, and also any holiday sessions that learner might need. The learners all have revision packs already."

Eithne Hughes, who is the director of the Association of School and College Leaders in Wales, said head teachers are working hard to make sure school environments remain "a calm place".

"This a very frightening time for everyone, but head teachers are reassuring children," she told BBC Radio Wales' Breakfast show.

"They're very good at drawing up plans to try to make sure that fear is not being stoked up within their own community."

Jack, 15, is preparing for GCSEs this summer. His primary concern is the health of his grandparents, but his exams are also on his mind.

"I'm already stressed enough as it is, and then added on to this they might close the school which could damage learning and it's not the best.

"Some of my friends are panicking... it is very uncertain. The teachers are doing a lot to help. We're learning as much as we can."

Qualifications Wales said it was monitoring the situation along with authorities across the UK and discussing "whether any additional measures are needed this year".

"In the meantime the really important message is that learners, students and their teachers continue to prepare for this summer's exams just as they would any other year," spokesman Emyr George said.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said one consideration in deciding not to close schools was the impact on parents, especially those working in key areas such as the NHS and the police.