Kirsty Williams: Free breakfast in primary schools has been a flagship Welsh Government scheme for over 15 years. It is integral to our wider work to support our youngest learners to be emotionally and physically ready to learn by providing them with a healthy start to the school day.
Kirsty Williams: As of January 2018, 88 per cent of all maintained primary schools are offering a free breakfast club, allowing learners at that school to benefit, as I said, from that healthy breakfast before they start the school day. Indeed, the evidence would suggest—and I have to admit, and there are people who've been in the Chamber long enough to know that I was highly sceptical of the free breakfast...
Kirsty Williams: I am aware that some local authorities have made different decisions about how they organise breakfast clubs. You will be aware that, in 2013-14, that financial year, the funding mechanism for free breakfasts in primary schools changed from a direct grant, and now that money is made available via the revenue support grant. Breakfasts are free, but individual local authorities and schools are...
Kirsty Williams: The twenty-first century schools programme will see investment of £1.4 billion over the five-year period, ending now, this year, in 2019. A further £2.3 billion investment is planned from April of this year onward, and the programme is delivered in partnership with local authorities and others who prioritise the projects that need to be delivered.
Kirsty Williams: It is not for individual schools to make an application to the twenty-first century schools fund. The applications need to have come from the individual local education authority, who should carry out a needs assessment and a building survey assessment of its school estate, and, therefore, appropriately apply for priorities within their own local authority area. Those applications that are...
Kirsty Williams: Pupil voice is key to informing policy and creating a productive educational environment for our schools. All pupils should have the opportunity to take part in making decisions about their learning, and we will continue to engage with children and young people as the new curriculum is made available for feedback.
Kirsty Williams: Well, I'm delighted to do so. I've been fortunate enough to—well, in fact, I got to open the new Coed Eva Primary School, and I have visited its federated twin on a number of occasions, most recently, I have to say, on a very innovative mental health day that the children—not the staff, the children had planned, not just for their benefit, but, actually, for a range of primary schools in...
Kirsty Williams: I have noted the UCAS statistics on acceptances to full-time undergraduate courses for 2018-19. The slight reduction reflects the ongoing decline in the number of 18-year-olds in the United Kingdom. I am, however, encouraged by reports from some universities of increased applications for postgraduate and part-time undergraduate courses.
Kirsty Williams: Of course, Presiding Officer, recruitment is a matter for individual institutions. What Welsh students have the advantage of is the most progressive and generous system of student support anywhere in the United Kingdom. With regard to incentivising students to study in Wales, the Member will be aware, because, again, we discussed this this morning at the committee, when it comes to support...
Kirsty Williams: It is essential that all our young people have access to music education. I recognise that more must be done to support them to have the opportunity to develop their talents and skills. That is why I have made available additional funding in 2018-19 and 2019-20 to support music activities.
Kirsty Williams: South Wales West constituency showed improved attainment for its level 2 inclusive performance in 2018. There are no schools in an Estyn statutory category in Neath Port Talbot or Swansea, but three in Bridgend. Local authorities have statutory responsibility for intervening where appropriate and should take prompt action to address any issues.
Kirsty Williams: Across Government we are prioritising support for schools through the local government settlement. We continue to provide significant additional grant funding over and above the core funding for schools through local authorities. Over this Assembly term, we have committed to invest £100 million to raise school standards.
Kirsty Williams: I refer the Assembly Member to my responses on 25 April and 19 September 2018. Schools funding is the responsibility of local authorities as is set out in law in Wales. There are no current proposals to review the way in which schools are funded.
Kirsty Williams: The adult learning in Wales policy reaffirms our commitment to adult learners. Following a recent consultation, officials are working with the sector to take forward changes to delivery structures and funding of adult learning. We are seeking to ensure a more equitable and sustainable model operational from September 2020.
Kirsty Williams: Estyn is an independent body and, as such, the work of the inspectorate is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales. The independent review of Estyn considered the implications of our education reforms on the future role and operation of the inspectorate.
Kirsty Williams: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. The publication of our curriculum and assessment White Paper marks an important milestone in Wales’s current education reform journey. It is also a significant moment in our history as a people who believe in education as an individual, community and national endeavour. For the first time ever, we are bringing forward our own 'made in Wales' legislative proposals...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank Suzy Davies for that long list of questions? I will try and cover them as best I can and as quickly as I can. I'm glad that the Member recognises that there is greater clarity around the purposes of the curriculum. Of course, this was a finding by Graham Donaldson in his 'Successful Futures' report, which said that we needed to have that clarity, and I believe that we have...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much to the Member for the questions. She is quite right, of course, that the professional learning requirements to implement the curriculum are not a matter for the White Paper, but just to reassure the Member that no education system can exceed the quality of those people who stand in front of our children day in and day out, and, therefore, having a professional workforce...
Kirsty Williams: I wasn't being flippant when I said 2026 was a long way away. What I was actually trying to say—obviously not clearly enough—was that that will be here with us before we know it. And that's why it's been absolutely crucial to me that we have had Qualifications Wales engaged from the very start of the process. Work is already under way on understanding the consequences for qualifications...
Kirsty Williams: The Member began by asking about how do I respond to issues raised by the WLGA and ADEW. Well, of course, we rehearsed these at length at the recent meeting of the Children, Young People and Education committee, and my views haven't changed. Indeed, they've only been reinforced. The following Monday, I was at an event where I sat next to two of our directors of local education authorities and...
