Kirsty Williams: Can I welcome the new spokesperson for Plaid Cymru? I was grateful to have and early opportunity to discuss with him what joint priorities we have together and I look forward to working with him. As you will be aware, there are a number of initiatives that I wish to take forward in the education field. The finances of those are being discussed in the usual discussions between myself and the...
Kirsty Williams: Can I say that the role of consortia is a role that there is a discussion about? My manifesto commitment to abolish the regional consortia was based on the fact that the manifesto also called for local government reorganisation. Whilst there is still a lack of clarity around what the future map or the future look of what local authorities will do in Wales, I think we have to be cautious in...
Kirsty Williams: First, may I say that PISA remains a very important indicator of how the Welsh education system is performing? It’s not the only indicator, but it is an important one if our students are to compete in a worldwide economy when they leave the education system. The Member will be aware that the last round of PISA tests were undertaken by Welsh students in the autumn of last year. We expect the...
Kirsty Williams: Can I say how pleased I am that Darren Millar will be shadowing me? Having worked closely together for the last five years on the health committee, I would’ve missed him if the change had not been made. You’ll be aware from the First Minister’s statement that the additional learning needs Bill is a legislative priority for the Government; it is long overdue. I know it was of regret to...
Kirsty Williams: The Member will be aware that, when the Bill is published, alongside that there will be a regulatory impact assessment and there will also be a financial assessment, which will outline the resources that will be needed for the successful implementation of that Bill.
Kirsty Williams: Can I urge the Member to read not just the education section of the Welsh Liberal Democrat manifesto but the entire document? There’s much in it to commend to you. The consortia do have an important role to play in terms of educational improvement whilst we still have a system of 22 local authorities, many of which, in the past, have been demonstrated not to effectively have educational...
Kirsty Williams: Certainly. In Wales, we are committed to a comprehensive education for all.
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member? I know that she has worked very hard over a number of years on this issue. Indeed, the Welsh Government in the last Assembly reviewed the guidance very much as a result of the campaigning work that she did in this area. I take a common-sense view that travel arrangements are not suitable if they are not safe. The legislation, as I referred to earlier, that is in place,...
Kirsty Williams: My goodness, Mike, I have tried very hard to make sure that I’m well prepared for those questions, but those details I do not have to hand. If it’s acceptable to the Member, I will write to him with the exact details of DDA-compliant or non-compliant schools and the plans that we have. I’m sure much of the investment in the twenty-first century schools programme is aligned with making...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member for the point, which is a particularly pertinent one? We do know that, even at the earliest stage, when children go into school, our children from the most deprived backgrounds are already behind. That’s why, this week, the Welsh Government have launched their Ready to Learn project to try and give information to parents and carers about the small things that they can...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member for that timely question? Learners currently study politics and current affairs through the personal and social education framework and the newly revamped Welsh baccalaureate. The new curriculum is being designed with four purposes at its heart and will help all young people to develop into ethical, informed citizens of Wales and, indeed, the world.
Kirsty Williams: I thank the Member for those observations. As I said, this is already contained within the existing curriculum, and Estyn have a role in ensuring that the delivery of that curriculum, as it currently stands, is giving children and students the information that they need to be able to participate in all aspects of Welsh life. With regard to the new curriculum, which, as I said, has as one of...
Kirsty Williams: Can I agree with the Member wholeheartedly on perhaps it’s not young people who we needed to have given better information to in the run-up to the referendum result? And, in expressing my sadness and disappointment with that result, it is those young people who will actually be affected by this decision more than anybody else in our nature. And it has been a source of great dismay to me, at...
Kirsty Williams: Yes, indeed, and, as I said, the new Welsh baccalaureate, which was first introduced for teaching in September of last year, includes global citizenship as one of its four core challenges. There is existing provision within the current curriculum, but as we develop our new curriculum, via our pioneer schools, there will be, as I said, a strong focus of ensuring that our children, when they...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Colleagues, we are embarking on a major reform agenda, the biggest education reform that we have seen in Wales since the 1940s. We have begun developing the new curriculum in collaboration with the sector, we are making major improvements to initial teacher training and are working to support the development of the education workforce through the current...
Kirsty Williams: Could I thank Llyr for his questions? It’s disappointing to hear that schools that are supposedly part of the pioneer programme don’t recognise that. Pioneer schools are an important part of developing a number of strands of education policy, in terms of workforce development as well as curriculum development, and we need to redouble our efforts. I do share the Member’s concerns about...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank Darren Miller for his questions and his welcome for many of the initiatives within the statement? He is absolutely correct when he says that federation is not just relevant to rural schools. Actually, it’s a source of disappointment to me that, although the regulations that allow federation have been around for a number of years, we’ve seen little development of this. If one...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank David Melding for his contribution and his continued campaigning in this area? David, you and I are two of only nine of the original class of ’99, and you have consistently, throughout the period of the last 17 years, championed the rights of looked-after children, and I commend you. Much of the change that we have seen has been as a result of people like you continuing to press...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank Jenny Rathbone for those detailed questions? With regard to pupil tracking, we need to make sure that that is happening consistently right the way across our country. True success in the education system will be by ensuring that all our children reach their potential, and we have to acknowledge that each child’s potential is different. Some of the ways in which, perhaps, we’ve...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Today, I would like to set out my priorities for the initial teacher education change programme in Wales. Every parent, Presiding Officer, should be confident that their child goes to a school that helps them grow as capable, healthy and well-rounded citizens. Teachers must be supported to be the best that they can be, raising the standard of the...
