Jeremy Miles: Local authorities in north Wales, in partnership with the GwE consortium, are primarily responsible for ensuring the quality of school education in their localities. The Welsh Government supports those efforts by providing a framework for evaluation, improvement and accountability and the implementation of the new Curriculum for Wales.
Jeremy Miles: Our school essentials grant has made a huge difference to a number of low-income families across Wales, helping to reduce concerns about the purchase of uniform and kit, for example. Funding of £13.6 million will be available in 2023-24.
Jeremy Miles: Well, Heledd Fychan raised some very important issues. She knows that I agree with her that schools should be accessible to children from all backgrounds, and the school essentials grant has made a significant contribution to that, and along with that, we are launching a campaign to market the availability of that grant in order to ensure that everyone who qualifies does apply for that...
Jeremy Miles: The Member says that we can 'debate the merits' of it; let's be clear, he doesn't want us to be doing it. [Interruption.] He doesn't want us to be feeding every child in primary school, so that's absolutely the position that his party takes. So, there's no debate about the merits of it; it's pretty clear what his position is on it, so let's have that on the record. There's a significant fund...
Jeremy Miles: We recognise that schools and colleges play a vital role in supporting our local communities. It's essential that investment in our education estate through our sustainable communities for learning programme drives energy efficiencies, reduces revenue pressures, and improves access to these important facilities.
Jeremy Miles: I thank Buffy Williams—and that's a very important question—and I thank her as well for inviting me to visit Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, and I thank Mr Spanswick and the staff for the very warm welcome that they gave me when I was able to visit, and I saw, of course, the facilities in the school there and the important work that they do at first-hand. The sustainable communities for learning...
Jeremy Miles: Over the course of the 10-year period of the Welsh in education strategic plans programme right across Wales, there will be, roughly speaking, 50 new schools, either through the construction of new schools or increased Welsh language provision in existing schools, partly by taking those schools along the Welsh language continuum. And so, the plan isn't all dependent on actually physically...
Jeremy Miles: I thank the Member for the work that she's doing to improve her knowledge at first hand through speaking to schools right across Wales about the implications of the ALN reform. As she said, it's an important set of reforms and it's one that I know all parts of the Chamber are committed to. She says that transferring young people who are currently in the system onto the new system is...
Jeremy Miles: Well, just for the Chamber to be aware, the letter that I wrote to the Member, the opposition spokesperson for education, now several months ago, I think, asking her to bring to my attention any documents of concern and evidence they're being used in schools in Wales remains unanswered. And the terms in which the Member brings the matters to the Chamber I'm afraid I think rather says it all....
Jeremy Miles: I have the advantage over her in being able to see the faces of her colleagues as she’s bringing these things to the Chamber, and it is a picture, because they are as embarrassed as we are all embarrassed. We are all engaged in this Chamber in making sure that there is a curriculum—[Interruption.] We are all engaged in this Chamber in making sure that there is a curriculum that addresses...
Jeremy Miles: It's true to say that the commission hasn't been in a position, to date, to say 'Habemus papam' with regard to the appointment, but the work is ongoing to look at the candidates and to appoint the right person. Of course, it is important to ensure that, among the leadership team and the wider board, the range of skills and experiences needed for the commission is reflected.
Jeremy Miles: Thank you to the Member for that. The question that she asks is very important. A great deal of engagement takes place. I chair a cross-sectoral group that looks at the strategic issues, but also at the operational issues when they are issues that a number of bodies have an interest in. Of course, there is a programme of more detailed work that takes place between officials and the officials...
Jeremy Miles: Through the ongoing implementation of the ALN reforms, children with additional learning needs in Montgomeryshire will be listened to and receive the support they need in their education.
Jeremy Miles: I thank Russell George for that question. It's an important question and he's—. It's a constructive issue to raise, so I thank him very much for that. We have issued guidance and continue to issue guidance that deals with some of the aspects that he's raised in his question, but I will speak to officials to make sure that we are clear that all the cross-border working that needs to be...
Jeremy Miles: 'Curriculum for Wales' focuses on developing enterprising, creative learners, ready to play a full part in life and work. I strongly support the importance of skills as part of learning and the opportunity for schools and colleges to work together to meet the needs of young people.
Jeremy Miles: Thank you, Huw Irranca-Davies, for that question. I very much welcome schools and institutions like Maesteg comprehensive and Neath Port Talbot College in that example, I think, working together to give that hands-on training in vocational areas like construction. There are other examples in the Swansea Bay City Deal skills and talent project and the Tech Valleys STEM project in Blaenau Gwent...
Jeremy Miles: I work very closely with the Minister for Economy, and our portfolios come together in this particular area. A significant amount of that is to make sure that the vocational qualifications we are offering are able to support the young people to do the jobs of the future. So, whether that's in relation to the vocational qualifications review, which is currently under way, or the investment...
Jeremy Miles: The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill fulfils a programme for government commitment to place social partnership on a statutory footing in Wales. As it is a significant employment sector, we are keen to ensure that higher education is represented on the statutory social partnership council, and the Bill provides for that.
Jeremy Miles: Can I just say that the Member makes an important point in her question? I speak with UCU regularly in any event, but I was able to attend their conference, their congress, a couple of weeks ago, and to discuss with them at first-hand some of the concerns that they raised, and one of the points specifically that we touched on was, in fact, the innovation strategy. She asks about my position....
Jeremy Miles: Well, I reject the premise of the question, and I'm not going to take any lessons on social partnerships from a Conservative. If you want to look to see what Conservatives do when they are asked to try and resolve disputes with trade unions, you can just look over the border. The answer is: they don't do anything to try and resolve them. The approach that we've—
