Jack Sargeant: I have two things I'd like to raise with the leader of the house, if possible. Firstly, I had the pleasure of returning to my old school, Connah's Quay High School, to meet a group of students partaking in the F1 in Schools competition. The competition involves designing and manufacturing carbon dioxide-powered model racing cars using sophisticated computer-aided design software and...
Jack Sargeant: ...that welcomes and celebrates young people who have a wide range of different skills and skillsets. I remember very fondly during the campaign in the by-election in February visiting a local primary school in my constituency where I met a group of young children who are part of the school's youth parliament. Huw joined me on that visit, and it was a great visit and I'm sure he was very...
Jack Sargeant: ...including unlimited bandwidth and gigabit-speed connectivity, to entire communities, both urban and rural. Every gigabit city and hub we build would provide local businesses, government, health and education sectors with state-of-the-art facilities and digital infrastructure capable of meeting their data, connectivity and communication needs for decades to come. We should strive for Wales...
Jack Sargeant: Firstly, I'd just like to take the opportunity to welcome Ysgol Bryn Deva to the gallery upstairs. It's actually my primary school, so it's really great to see them here today. I'd just like to move on, leader of the house, to this weekend, and this weekend is, as many of you know, is the Great Get Together, a day inspired by the late Jo Cox MP. I'll be holding my own events in the...
Jack Sargeant: ...update from the Cabinet Secretary in December 2016? But could we have another update on this extremely important issue? And also, can I request a second update from the Cabinet Secretary for Education on mental health services in schools? It's almost a year since the Welsh Government announced its £1.4 million investment to strengthen the support from specialist child and adolescent...
Jack Sargeant: ...and have a look for themselves, because I wasn't surprised to see that so many children and young people refer to the need for better mental health services and to ensure that we end bullying in schools. This, of course, will take time, but with the right leadership we can ensure that, within our own political parties, we lead the way to end bullying within our ranks. I firmly believe...
Jack Sargeant: ...in four students experience poor mental health whilst at university, and what many of them are saying is that it is difficult to find and access the services that they need. Being on a course of education can be very stressful. For many students, it's their first time away from home. There are lots of new experiences and new people to meet. There's often financial pressure. There's the...
Jack Sargeant: .... Now, as an engineer, I'm particularly excited about the potential for all sectors of our economy, and we can make that a reality if we get the investment right, and that's from infrastructure to education, lifelong learning, apprenticeships and continued professional development. Putting industry at the heart of our curriculum and taking seriously investment such as digital connectivity...
Jack Sargeant: Will the Minister make a statement on mental health support within schools?
Jack Sargeant: ...results we need for the future. So, with that in mind, what plans has the Government got to try to deal with this issue? Will the Deputy Minister commit that the Government will work with further education institutions, colleges and industry, for example, to create a package for graduate apprentices to pick up the necessary skills to transfer their knowledge to future apprentices? Also, on...
Jack Sargeant: ...Apple watch going off during the debate. [Laughter.] Policies to deal with those things must all be about emotions. They're concerned with our homes and communities, our economy and livelihood, the education of our children and the care of those in ill health. They should engage with our humanity and our vulnerability, require trust and sharing, and therefore always and everywhere engage...
Jack Sargeant: ..., which I've said many times, I recognise the support that you give to others and look after their well-being as well. So, thank you, Jayne. Acting Presiding Officer, I'd like to put on record a school in my constituency as well, Ysgol Tŷ Ffynnon, which has taken on this approach and actually, earlier this year, became the first school in Wales to complete the national nurturing schools...
Jack Sargeant: Thank you, Andrew, for raising this very important question. Like Andrew R.T. Davies, I too have had many talks with local high schools and primary schools but also with the local authority as well, and I welcome the announcement made yesterday, and that was actually my line of questioning to that. So, I welcome that and thank you, Minister, but can you just reassure the Assembly that those...
Jack Sargeant: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on funding for education providers in north-east Wales? OAQ55078
Jack Sargeant: ...and food poverty being the most visible signs. Footballer Marcus Rashford has recently shone a light on this issue, using his own personal story to explain just how terrible it is to go to school hungry. The effects of this can and often do last a lifetime. Now, we often kid ourselves that poverty is an issue for other people, but, friends, let this fact sink in: one third of households...
Jack Sargeant: 4. How is the Welsh Government ensuring that schools support pupils with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? OQ55908
Jack Sargeant: Can I thank the Minister for that answer? Last week, I visited Ysgol Tŷ Ffynnon in my constituency to congratulate them on becoming the first school in Wales to be awarded the 'ADHD friendly school' award from the ADHD Foundation, a really fantastic achievement. Minister, will you take this opportunity to congratulate the school, and advise on how schools across Wales can follow Ysgol Tŷ...
Jack Sargeant: ...across Wales, do not have the right fast and reliable access that they deserve, and parents are rightly concerned, so I'm here today seeking assurances that that will not impact their children's education. So, what can you say to residents in Flintshire, in particular, and what can your department do to give those assurances that they'll get the education that those children deserve and...
Jack Sargeant: Minister, a medical school for north Wales is something that I have long called for and is something that is particularly important for the north Wales region. Do you agree with me that it's a Mark Drakeford-led Government that is committed to delivering this and that the only way that this is affordable and deliverable is with him as First Minister?
Jack Sargeant: ...? Trefnydd, I'd like to request a written statement on access to funding via student finance for people seeking to study a PGCE. Residents have contacted me who wish to study in Cheshire East school-centred initial teacher training, but currently cannot do so and get funding from Student Finance Wales. Now, students living in England and Northern Ireland can get funding to take this course...
