Paul Davies: ...procedures in place for food contracts across Wales so that Welsh farmers and food producers don’t miss out on these very important contracts? A key area of this action plan is in relation to education, training and skills for the food and drink sector, and that is something that I very much welcome. I’m pleased to see from last year’s update that the Welsh baccalaureate has been...
Paul Davies: ...across Pembrokeshire and is supported by organisations such as the Milford Haven Port Authority, who are sponsoring employers. Now, this, of course, is a great example of local businesses and education providers working together to develop apprenticeships that are important to the local economy. So, can you tell us: what is the Welsh Government doing to encourage and support more...
Paul Davies: ...correspondence from constituents who are frustrated with the long waiting times in diagnosis for their children. In the meantime, these parents have to see their children continuing in the education system without access to the vital support that they need. This can harm the social skills and the communication skills of their children, and harm their progress in education in general. In...
Paul Davies: ...families in Wales take home the lowest wages in Britain—this according to the Welsh Government’s own statistical analysis. Last week, an EU regional social progress index study placed Wales’s education system at the bottom of the UK league table—not the first study to do so. Public health, too, remains a major concern. The Welsh health survey highlighted that obesity levels are...
Paul Davies: 1. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government’s plans to develop secondary education in Pembrokeshire? OAQ(5)0036(EDU)
Paul Davies: ...Secretary will be aware that a number of consultations have been held regarding secondary provision in Haverfordwest over the last two to three years, which has delayed the progress of improving education for children and young people. It’s now important that Pembrokeshire County Council start delivering, because this number of consultations, which have resulted in huge delays, have been...
Paul Davies: As the Member for Cynon Valley has just said, this programme is making a difference in some schools in Wales, including Milford Haven comprehensive school in my own constituency, but I appreciate that results seem to be patchy across Wales. However, given that the programme will now end just three years after its establishment, is the Cabinet Secretary satisfied that a programme like this has...
Paul Davies: ...the sector to flourish locally, nationally and, indeed, internationally. Of course, this policy area is one that covers a number of Welsh Government departments—indeed, everything from health to education to the economy. So, it’s essential that any strategy in this area is co-ordinated effectively. So, I hope that the Cabinet Secretary will tell us what specific mechanisms she has put...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Lywydd, and I'm pleased to take part in this debate this afternoon and highlight some of the ways I think we can help our learners achieve better standards in Welsh schools. There’s no doubt that we are all extremely concerned and disappointed by Wales’s PISA figures last week. Despite the hard work and professionalism of teachers across Wales, the figures show that Wales is...
Paul Davies: ...Professor Hazelkorn’s report? Can I also take this opportunity to thank Professor Hazelkorn for undertaking this important piece of work, and I believe that she’s absolutely right to say that education plays a vital role in shaping our society? We can’t deny that there has been a raft of strategic policy documents generated by successive Welsh Governments, however those strategies...
Paul Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I’m very pleased I’ve had the opportunity to take part in this debate this afternoon. Members are right to emphasise the importance of the further education sector in Wales and to draw attention to examples of some of the excellent work that our FE providers are doing. In my constituency, Pembrokeshire College offers a strong and varied programme...
Paul Davies: ...from the outset, that the Welsh Conservatives will support this motion. Of course, we on this side of the Chamber recognise that Wales faces a number of challenges when it comes to our health, our education system and out economy, and I’ll be focusing on the future. As the second point of the motion says, performance in these policy areas clearly shows that the Welsh Government must be...
Paul Davies: ...our communities. It brings people together, it teaches us about our past and it attracts visitors and tourists of all backgrounds and beliefs. In other words, culture plays a huge part on a social, educational and economic level. That’s something that I hope the Welsh Government will encourage for the future. I’m pleased that the Welsh Government has chosen to market 2017 as the Year...
Paul Davies: 10. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on what the Welsh Government is doing to improve education in Pembrokeshire? OAQ(5)0099(EDU)
Paul Davies: Minister, the latest Estyn report also highlights the fact that inspection outcomes for special schools aren’t as positive as previous years, and the results for pupil referral units continue to be poor. In light of this, what specific steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve outcomes in special schools and in pupil referral units specifically?
Paul Davies: I’m grateful to the Minister for that response. I’m also very grateful that Ysgol Bro Cleddau in my constituency was named recently as the Assembly’s first ambassador school in Wales, and the success of the programme has led the school to understand more about the work of the Assembly and has given the pupils a platform to discuss current affairs. Now, in light of this success, what...
Paul Davies: ...Delivering services such as social services for older people, for example, can be problematic over large geographic and sparse areas, as well as many other services, such as the provision of rural schools. Therefore, it’s crucial that the Welsh Government genuinely acknowledges some of the challenges that rural authorities face, and efforts must be made to relieve some of the...
Paul Davies: ...that the Welsh index of multiple deprivation has historically highlighted that Powys and Ceredigion were also counted as the most deprived in Wales when accessing local services such as libraries, schools and leisure centres. However, I understand that the Cabinet Secretary is committed to reviewing this funding formula and, therefore, perhaps, in responding to this debate, the Cabinet...
Paul Davies: ...also provide valuable apprenticeships and work experience placements, which can significantly enhance the provision of skills in our communities. Greater collaboration between local authorities, schools and colleges and local businesses can lay the foundation for lifetime learning in our communities and ensure that any gaps in local skills provision are addressed by the local community....
Paul Davies: 3. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve education in Pembrokeshire? OAQ(5)0114(EDU)
