, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: An Update on Higher Education
Well, we don't know what they are yet, so it's impossible to quantify at this stage what resources will be required in order to address them, but you will have my assurance that both the Deputy Minister and I will look very constructively at recommendations…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: An Update on Higher Education
Both of those questions are very important and I can hopefully offer the Member some reassurance that they were both the subject of a recent discussion that I had, also dealing with other topics, with vice-chancellors. The implication in his question, I…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: An Update on Higher Education
I thank Sioned Williams for that range of questions. May I echo and acknowledge what she has said with regard to the student in Aberystwyth University? They are very sad circumstances. The work that suicide-safer and StepChange is doing is very important…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: An Update on Higher Education
I thank the Member for those questions. In relation to the point on mental health, he asked when there would be a progress report on the work of the advisory group, and the point at which that will happen is when the work of the advisory group is complete. I…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: An Update on Higher Education
The main focus today has been on students, but, before I close, I would like to turn to our higher education institutions. Let me say at the outset that I understand their financial concerns. Every sector, be it public or private, is feeling the pressure of…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: An Update on Higher Education
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. This Government believes that higher education should be available to all, and we are committed to using every lever available to ensure that can happen. We know that living costs can be a real barrier to accessing university. That's…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Progress Update on the Welsh in Education Workforce Plan
We have more than one financial incentive to attract people to the sector from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, but also other communities, and it's possible to combine those incentives with the incentives that are available in terms of teaching…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Progress Update on the Welsh in Education Workforce Plan
I thank the Member for the questions, which are all fair questions. In terms of the bursary, as I said in the statement, the plan is to have the bursary for five years and to see what happens on the ground. If it’s effective, we’ll continue it, of course, but…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Progress Update on the Welsh in Education Workforce Plan
I thank Laura Anne Jones for her questions in relation to my statement. She's right to say that there are challenges in making sure that we have the numbers of teachers who can teach Welsh and teach through the medium of Welsh. She will also know there are…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Progress Update on the Welsh in Education Workforce Plan
Alongside this work, there are two other organisations that have a key role in developing our workforce. I have agreed increased funding for CYDAG to support our Welsh-medium schools. I have also agreed to fund a Welsh language lead within the National…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Progress Update on the Welsh in Education Workforce Plan
Dirprwy Lywydd, as outlined, we are developing a range of interventions to try and increase the number of teachers. However, if we are to increase the overall number of teachers, action needs to be taken not only to increase the number being trained, but also…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Progress Update on the Welsh in Education Workforce Plan
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's nearly a year since I published the Welsh in education workforce plan, and today I want to update you on some of the actions that have been taken to date and the actions being taken forward in the coming year. Members will…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Adnodd—Supporting the Curriculum for Wales
I thank the Member for welcoming this development. What's important to remember is that this is not the start of the commissioning process; commissioning is already happening, but I would say, to be honest, that it's happening in a way that's non-strategic…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Adnodd—Supporting the Curriculum for Wales
I thank the Member for that range of questions. I think some are more germane to the statement than others. I think it is important to avoid duplication. I think we achieve that principally by this company having an entirely different function from, for…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Adnodd—Supporting the Curriculum for Wales
Working with stakeholders from the education, creative and public sectors has been, and will continue to be, fundamental to the provision of educational resources and supporting materials that are made in Wales. A national network conversation was held in…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Adnodd—Supporting the Curriculum for Wales
Thank you, Llywydd. Gaining access to high-quality bilingual educational resources and supporting materials is central to our vision and mission for education in Wales. High-quality educational resources made in Wales for Wales will enhance the quality of…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
The Member makes a series of very important points. She talked about the importance of children's own experience of schools, and I think that listening and the hearing of the voices of young people in this is very, very important. The £40 million capital that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
I thank Vikki Howells for those two questions. On the first question, one of the aspects of the job, which is a great pleasure actually, is being able to visit the initial teacher education partnerships across Wales, both remotely in the past, but now also in…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
I thank John Griffiths, and I know of his commitment to the principle of community-focused schools, not least because of the successes in his particular area of many schools in achieving that, and I think he just highlights two important themes in what he has…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
I think the Member is absolutely right to mention the importance of food as part of the summer food and fun programme—it's sometimes called 'food and fun', in some parts of Wales. I share with her her passion for making sure that schools teach young people…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
Well, the Member made an important point about what are the biggest challenges, and I think possibly the biggest challenge that schools face is making sure that young people are in school. There are obviously very high levels of absence, which many, many…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
I thank the Member for her observations and the questions that she has asked. She makes an important point, I think, about the ability of schools on their own to address the full impact of poverty on educational attainment. Schools are in their communities…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
I will close by repeating my commitment of last year: every single child in Wales deserves high standards and aspirations. I set out a road map to achieve this last week, and, today, I have provided an update on some specific actions to tackle the impact of…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
Dirprwy Lywydd, there is always more to learn. Over the last 12 months, we've looked across the UK and internationally to inform policy, drawing on the expertise of organisations like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Twelve months ago, I set out a series of actions to set us on the path to address the impact of poverty on educational attainment. Attainment gaps between children and young people impacted by poverty and their peers in primary…
