Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Mick. Firstly, on the twenty-first century schools programme, can I assure Members that work onsite continues, and has continued, as soon as regulations allowed that to happen? And despite the considerable strain on Welsh Government budgets, I'm delighted that the capital available to me to continue to support band B of that programme is unchanged. Even during lockdown, we've been...
Kirsty Williams: Presiding Officer, you can't close the vote. You haven't asked me to vote, and I can't vote via the app.
Kirsty Williams: On amendment 1, in the name of Rebecca Evans, I vote 'yes'.
Kirsty Williams: Formally.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. And I'd like to thank colleagues for the opportunity to discuss our higher and further education sectors, both of which I am incredibly proud to have worked alongside during these most difficult of times. And that is why, Deputy Presiding Officer, I am tabling the Government's amendment, which extends our thanks, as a Parliament, to the efforts...
Kirsty Williams: I would also like to remind Conservative Members that both their colleagues in the UK Government and the Westminster Petitions Committee have rejected calls for a universal reduction in tuition fees as a result of the pandemic. The reality is that a universal reduction in fees or debt cancellation would only harm—harm—the quality of education and student services that our universities can...
Kirsty Williams: I'm very happy to make that commitment. What we know is that, actually, a very small proportion of students will ever pay back the loans that they have taken out to pay for their higher education—they are the top earning graduates, and actually a fee cut at this stage will benefit those individual students—[Interruption.] Well, no, it is a fact.
Kirsty Williams: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I welcome this opportunity to discuss the legislative response that we've made to the COVID-19 pandemic, using powers afforded to us by the Coronavirus Act 2020. Throughout these extraordinary times, we've worked hard to give schools and local authorities the time and the space that they need to get on with the important job of supporting the needs of all learners,...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Llywydd. To begin with, can I thank Mick Antoniw and his committee for their feedback? Accessibility to legislation is an important part of the rule of law, and we will endeavour to ensure that, in bringing any education legislation forward, that principle is upheld. But I'm glad that the Chair recognises that the law is still correct, but obviously we will do our best to ensure...
Kirsty Williams: We are supporting schools in their efforts to deliver learning, given the range, scale and variability of disruption. We published our coronavirus control plan, which sets out our expectations for the operation of education and childcare settings at each of the stages in the wider coronavirus control plan for Wales.
Kirsty Williams: Welsh Government was trialling a multi-agency approach to support those schools in special measures. The trial was paused due to the demands of the pandemic. We are now looking to build on that approach this year so that these schools have the support to improve.
Kirsty Williams: School transport is the responsibility of the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport. As part of the preparations for the return to school for both the summer and autumn terms, I had several discussions with the Deputy Minister about school transport. My officials continue to meet regularly with transport officials.
Kirsty Williams: I am extremely grateful to our schools and local authorities for their hard work in ensuring we were ready to support the return of all pupils this term. The latest published attendance data shows an average of 84 per cent of pupils attended schools in north Wales in the week commencing 14 September.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Suzy. The review panel is currently gathering evidence and interviewing stakeholders. I will receive the interim findings, which will include key considerations for 2021, next month.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Suzy. The interim report from the review body will be made available to me next month, and their final review will be given to me before the end of the year. Clearly, in the interim, Qualifications Wales are indeed carrying out their own piece of work, but they have already given evidence to the review panel, I believe, and they will need to be cognisant of any findings that the...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, David. I recognise that practitioners, parents and pupils are concerned about what will happen in the examination series next summer. I have previously said that it is my sincere hope that examinations will be possible, but clearly we have to have contingencies in place if we find ourselves in the situation, for a variety of reasons, where examinations are not possible. As I said,...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Jayne. We have published guidance for post-16 providers to help them operate safely at this time. Colleges and universities must carry out risk assessments to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to manage the risks of COVID-19 transmission in their institutions.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Jayne, for that. You're right—our sixth forms come in all shapes and sizes, with class sizes that can vary considerably, but it is correct to say that, sometimes, in popular subjects in large schools, sixth-form classes can indeed have a number of pupils. We have been very clear in our guidance to both schools and colleges that we should look to minimise contacts...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you for that, Darren. We have had regular discussions with both schools and colleges about what reasonable adaptations can be made to support students who may themselves be very vulnerable or feel very vulnerable at this time. It would be important for that student to have a discussion with her college, but if, Darren, you would like to write to me about that particular case, I will...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Suzy. As you said, we are keeping in close touch with our local education authorities and our directors of education. And in the case you've just mentioned—400 pupils leaving a school—I myself have spoken to the headteacher in those circumstances to understand why that situation arose. That's why, as I said in answer to Jayne Bryant, we are learning the lessons of these four...
