Kirsty Williams: Carwyn Jones.
Kirsty Williams: First of all, can I thank the Member for such an early opportunity to answer questions here in this Chamber? The decision to cut support for part-time postgraduate study in Wales is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. The Welsh Government has no power to direct the funding council as to how to allocate the funds made available for higher education.
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member for her supplementary question and her good wishes? Part-time is a priority for this administration and is key to opening up opportunities for individuals to upskill and improve their employment prospects. Therefore, I was very pleased that HEFCW have recognised the importance of part-time provision and have been able to maintain its support at undergraduate level. I...
Kirsty Williams: Could I thank the Member for his question this afternoon also? HEFCW’s remit letter for 2016-17, which was written by the previous Minister, did task the council with developing a strategy for HE in Wales, which, amongst other things, did identify in which ways the councils and providers would work together to find innovative ways to encourage part-time study, and to create opportunities to...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you very much to the Member for bringing forward this debate this afternoon. May I congratulate her on her first short debate, and the speech that she delivered with such aplomb? As we heard from Hannah Blythyn, indeed, schools are not just a building programme, but obviously, a space for budding romances too. I’m grateful to the other Members...
Kirsty Williams: Financial education has been embedded in the school curriculum in Wales since 2008. It features in the statutory mathematics programme of study and the national literacy and numeracy framework. We have also asked Estyn to review the quality of schools’ financial education provision to inform development of our new curriculum.
Kirsty Williams: Estyn has judged those local authorities recently removed from special measures to have made sufficient progress, and previous ministerial interventions have come to an end. My officials continue to work closely with the Welsh Local Government Association and the authorities to consider how best to ensure that improvements continue and are sustainable.
Kirsty Williams: The current national curriculum supports the teaching of citizenship and provides opportunities that prepare learners for life as global citizens. Specifically, citizenship lies within areas of personal and social education and through the new Welsh baccalaureate, which was introduced for first teaching last September.
Kirsty Williams: The development of critical thinking skills is an essential element within our current school curriculum. We will also ensure that skills such as critical thinking and problem solving are embedded within the six areas of learning and experience in the new curriculum for Wales.
Kirsty Williams: Whilst there is no definitive view on the optimum size, I am considering options for the reduction of the largest infant classes, in order to respond to the concerns of parents and teachers.
Kirsty Williams: I have always been very clear that it is totally unacceptable for a child’s future to be determined by their background or personal circumstances, and not their own abilities.
Kirsty Williams: My priorities for education, agreed with the First Minister, were set out in his published letter of 15 June. These priorities cover all areas of Wales equally. The funding of my priorities will form part of the 2017-18 budget considerations.
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member for the question? There is not a shortage of school places in Wales. Although some schools are very popular and do not have sufficient places for all those who might wish to attend, I have received no reports of a shortage overall in any local authority.
Kirsty Williams: Could I thank the Member for his kind words? It certainly is a very different experience for me to be answering questions rather than asking them. Can I say to the Member that there are some pressures in some schools in some parts of Wales but there is not an overall shortage of places in Welsh schools? The Member will be aware of my agreement with the First Minister to review the policy on...
Kirsty Williams: Could I thank the Member for the question? She is quite right to point out that the issue of surplus places is not one alone for rural areas; it does have an effect on how we plan provision in urban areas too, and that will form part of the review. Cardiff has well-known plans to expand school provision in key locations, especially at primary level, and has already received capital funding...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member? I’m well aware of the concerns from those parents in the Swansea area who are seeking Welsh-medium education for their children. You will be aware that the previous Welsh in education plan for the Swansea area was approved by the previous Minister in March of this year, and that plan indeed identified some of the pressures that exist for parents seeking Welsh-medium...
Kirsty Williams: I thank the Member for the question. The latest published pupil level annual school census data, otherwise known as PLASC, show that the number of pupils in classes of over 30 with legally permitted exceptions was 256 pupils from a total of 2,600, making that 9.8 per cent of children.
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member for recognising the importance of this issue? As someone who has spent time at the chalk face, I’m sure she has first-hand experience of knowing how pupil numbers can have a real impact on the ability of children to learn. Reducing workload and enabling teachers to spend that crucial time supporting pupils is a key priority for me and the Welsh Government. I have...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member for the question and for his kind words? Can I make it clear that David Reynolds is not and adviser to my department? Can I also say that what there is evidence to suggest is that cutting class sizes is especially important to our younger pupils, it is especially important to our most deprived pupils—some of the communities that the Member says that he...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member for his observations? It is true to say that there will have to be a variety of approaches to how we achieve this. That’s why my officials are scoping out a number of options where we can make this a reality for pupils. That may include employing extra teachers, it may involve making grants available for capital works, or it may involve employing, for instance,...
