To the: Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales
AND
Kirsty Williams CBE MS, Minister for Education

On behalf of all children in Wales, we are writing to you to express our concerns regarding prolonged schools closures.

Over the last several months, children across the Wales have had their normal education replaced with online learning. As these months have shown, online school is not a satisfactory replacement for a real education.

Online education has had a severe impact on the mental, physical health and educational progress of the young Welsh generation. Not being able to interact with teachers and fellow pupils gives us a feeling of loneliness, placing a heavy burden on our mental well-being.

I’m nine and don’t have any brothers or sisters. Homeschool has been lonely. It’s just me and my mum. I try really hard but I miss my friends and my teachers and it’s just not the same. I miss doing gymnastics and athletics too. It feels like no one in charge really cares about me. If I had one wish it would be to go back to school properly. 

lonely child

Loneliness have proved to come with adverse health consequences including: depression, poor sleep quality and a weakened immune system. Children’s physical health has also deteriorated due to staying at home for long periods of time. This also increases the risk of conditions such as obesity.

Therefore it is imperative for us, the children, that schools be reopened to give all the children a chance to catch up not only on our missed educational opportunities but to bring back our lives again.

(Please sign our letter using the form below 👇)

Vernon, year 9
Mabel, year 7
Gwen, year 7
Ruby, year 5
Jack, year 4
Matthew, year 10
Isla, year 4
Bonnie, year 7
Violet, year 1
Henry, year 8

Isabelle, year 4
Iona, year 1
Aderyn, year 3
Owen/lewys, year 4
Harry, year 10
Hollie, year 12
Joseph, year 9
Lowri, year 11
Luke, year 11
Jakub, year 10

Michal, year 12
Jess, year 9
Millie, year 12
Leo, year 11
Eirlys, year 3
Teagan, year 6
Thomas, year 3
Lily, year 3
Heidi, year 9
Charlotte, year 7

Sion, year 10
Matthew, year 4
Sophie, year 8
Ernest, year 5
Jacob, year 6
Ellis, year 7
Olivia, year 13
Alexander, year 9
Mathew, year 10
Rhiannon, year 4
Archie, year 4

Kyle, year 9
Havana, year 12
Ellis, year 12
Hala, year 7
Lizzy, year 2
Abi, year 3
Oliver, year 8
Bethany, year 4
Lucas, year 7
Dyfan, year 8

Libby, year 11
Alice, year 5
Haydn, year 4
Ciara, year 4
Evan, year 6
Finlay, year 7
Morus, year 5
Guto, year 7
Chloe, year 4
Dylan, year 9
Harri, year 5

James, year 8
George, year 13
Georgia, year 7
Carys, year 10
Eva, year 7
Georgia, year 7
Carys, year 10
Daniel, year 5
Hanna, year 4
Tomos, year 7
Teagan, year 2

Hollie, year 7
Bethan, year 10
Niamh, year 9
Daniel, year 5
Henri, year 6
Alexander, year 9
Gary, year 12
Niamh, year 9
Daniel, year 13
James, year 8
Seren, year 10
Ffion, year 4

Catrin, year 10
Charlie, year 9
Lexie, year 5
Ryan, year 9
Alisha, year 8
Lily-Anne, year 5
Isabella, year 8
Jemima, year 7
Morgan, year 3
Libby, year 11

Rohan, year 2
Jon, year 10
Emilie, year 10
Isaac, year 8
Rhys, year 8
Henry, year 12
Ben, year 12

The evidence for keeping schools closed is weak and the risk to their future, and indeed present, far outweighs the risk of reopening schools’.

We ask parents or guardians to help children to sign the letter.