£24m to support learners affected by school closures
The Welsh Government has announced over £24m of additional funding to support learners who have felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic the most.
£7.5m will be used to provide extra support for learners in exam years, with additional teaching time and learning resources. It will help learners to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence, as well as supporting those who feel anxious about exams. The funding will be weighted towards schools with greater numbers of learners who receive free school meals.
Over £7m will go towards supporting learners whose attendance has dropped during the pandemic. Dedicated support will be provided to support Year 11 pupils who have low attendance to complete their GCSEs or help them reach the next stage in their education or in starting a career, as well as support for pupils in other years. Funding will also be provided to support well-being and education for learners at Pupil Referrals Units.
£9.5m will be provided to further education colleges and sixth forms to support students with their transition into the next stage of their education or career and for activities such as open days and taster sessions for vocational careers.
The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said: "We have prioritised education throughout the pandemic. But we know the pandemic has inevitably caused disruption, with evidence that certain learners, including those in exam years or from lower income backgrounds, have felt the impact most severely.
"We cannot allow the pandemic to throw any young person off course. This new funding will help ensure those who have been impacted the most are given the additional support they need to progress with confidence into the next stage of their lives.
"Our national mission is to tackle the impact of poverty on educational attainment and set high standards for all. We will do everything we can to ensure that all learners are on a level playing field and are able to reach their full potential."
Read more
Latest News
22/10/2025 - 14:06
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a new £2.7 million programme to deliver indoor air quality filters to hundreds of schools across the capital.
22/10/2025 - 09:45
Outlined in the Skills White Paper, plans include proposals for new V-levels, a vocational alternative to A-levels and T-levels, as well as a “stepping stone” qualification for students resitting English and maths GCSEs.
21/10/2025 - 09:56
Free specialist training is being made available to teachers in Wales to give them the knowledge to understand and respond to the challenges faced by adopted and care experienced children.
20/10/2025 - 09:52
Members of the newly formed Youth Select Committee have launched a call for evidence as part of their inquiry into Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education in secondary schools.
20/10/2025 - 09:37
A new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) warns that the current system for registering children for Free School Meals (FSM) is failing to reach many of the most disadvantaged pupils.
