Schools in Barry will stay closed until February half-term unless there is a "significant" drop in Covid cases across the country.

Previously schools across Wales were told they would re-open on 18 January at the earliest.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said that schools will now be reviewed alongside the national measures every three weeks.

"We have decided to bring decision making on schools and colleges into line with our three week review timetable.

"That means will we next review the situation on 29 January, and remote learning will continue until then at least.

"Unless we see a significant reduction in transmission before 29 January, then remote learning will have to continue until our next review date which conincides with the February half term," she said.

Vulnerable children and chidlren of critical workers will have access to their usual school or college.

Earlier this week, Pencoedtre High School headteacher Lee Humphreys told Nub News he was "proud" of how staff and pupils at the school had coped with the changing restrictions and dates.

Mr Humphreys said that they were expecting not to re-open from early January as was initially planned before Christmas.

"We haven't got a glass ball to look into the future, but equally it doesn't take a rocket scientist to read between the lines and see something was inevitable," said Mr Humphreys.

"We'd already put plans in place for this at Christmas and all our blended learning provisions were up and running, so it's a matter of keeping them up to date.

"It's challenging for us all, but our duty is to make sure the children aren't too badly affected both in their academic progress and in their wellbeing.

"You've got to follow the guidance and protect the community so that we can bring down infection rates and go back to in-person teaching," he said.

The Education Minister said this time will be used to work out how and when schools can re-open for some face-to-face teaching.

"During this period we will work together to look at all the possibilities to look at a phases and safe return of some pupils, such as those sturggling for qualifications or for younger children who find distance learnning the most difficult," said Ms Williams.

"We're taking this action today becuae this new variant is more infectious and is leading to increased numbers of people being hospitalised."