Secondary schools and colleges in Penarth will move to online learning from Monday 14 December as part of a "national effort to reduce transmission of coronavirus" Education Minister Kirsty Williams has confirmed.

"Every day, we are seeing more and more people admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms," said Ms Williams.

"I can therefore confirm that a move to online learning should be implemented for secondary school pupils and college students from Monday next week.

"We recognise, as we did during the firebreak, that it is more difficult for primary and special school age children to undertake self-directed learning.

"That is why we are encouraging primary and special schools to continue to stay open.

"Having spoken to local education leaders, I am confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place.

"This will also be important in ensuring that students are at home during this time, learning and staying safe.

"Critically, and this is very important, children should be at home.

"This is not an early Christmas holiday, please do everything you can to minimise your contact with others.

"The education family in Wales has pulled together so many times this year to make a real difference to the course of this virus and ultimately to save lives and I know we can do the same again," she said.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council responded to the announcement.

"Vale of Glamorgan schools are set to adopt a distance learning approach for the final days of the autumn term," read a statement from the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

"Secondary schools will begin teaching in this manner from Monday following instruction from Welsh Government, while primary schools and our special school will do so from Thursday next week.

"Inset days already scheduled by individual schools for the end of term will continue as planned."