Alun Davies: We recognise that the closure of the Wern Fawr site will be significant, but it should not result in any loss of availability for adult learners. Adult Learning Wales, along with officials, continues to work with the community to deliver adult learning provision in the Coleg Harlech tradition.
Alun Davies: May I begin by agreeing with the point that the Member has made about the traditions of Coleg Harlech and its contribution? I believe that each of us who has visited the college and everyone who has sat in this Siambr representing the Harlech area realises the contribution it’s made to further education over the years. I can confirm that my department has been having discussions with the...
Alun Davies: Estyn are wholly responsible for planning their inspection work. The inspectorate is introducing changes to inspection arrangements for schools and other providers from September 2017 to help drive improvement and support innovation. The inspectorate is also currently developing new inspection arrangements for local authority education services.
Alun Davies: It’s important to recognise, were that to be true, it may be that people would have some concerns, but let me say this: Estyn are continuing to meet with local authorities, local education authorities, to continue to have discussions with them about the sort of the support that they require; the improvement conferences that have taken place across Wales at the moment are designed to look...
Alun Davies: I hope that the support required by special schools will be offered by the consortia and others where that is necessary. I understand and accept the point made by the Member, and I think that the system of review that we have at the moment—the inspection system, rather—is a very robust one, and because of that we understand the situation that some special schools will face, and the...
Alun Davies: Band B of the twenty-first century schools and education programme is planned for the period 2019-24, and is currently under development. The Welsh Government will continue to work with our partners, including local authorities, diocesan authorities and the further education sector to understand demand for investment and key projects.
Alun Davies: The Member’s absolutely right to emphasise the investment that’s taken place in schools across Wales. Band A has seen a rebuild and refurbishment of over 150 schools and colleges across Wales. That’s a real investment in the education of children and young people for the future. The second wave will begin—band B will begin in 2019 and run over a five-year period to 2024. Investment...
Alun Davies: I would find it very difficult to disagree with that.
Alun Davies: Clearly, that’s a matter for the education authority in the city. What I will say is that all education authorities are expected to provide a coherence of education throughout the day and throughout these periods for the children and young people they’re delivering education to.
Alun Davies: Cylchoedd Ti a Fi’, Welsh-medium parent and toddler groups, are an important part of the Welsh-medium early years provision supported by Mudiad Meithrin. We want to ensure there is a clear path of support for parents to use Welsh with their children, with the aim of increasing numbers reaching Welsh-medium education.
Alun Davies: I thank the Member for the question. There is a package of support for ‘cylchoedd Ti a Fi’, which was announced in the autumn of last year, and that includes advice and examples of good practice to ensure that existing groups and new groups can receive support and also be established anew. In addition, there’s a grant of £1.4 million in the next financial year, which will support a...
Alun Davies: I should thank the Member for sending me a copy of that document. I haven’t had an opportunity to read it yet; I’ll be doing that over the weekend, perhaps. But I very much appreciate it. May I say this? The language strategy will be a Government strategy, and it won’t be the strategy of any particular department. It’ll be developed across the Government, including every Government...
Alun Davies: I think one of the most inspiring things that we’ve seen in recent years has been the growth in the enthusiasm for the language in the parts of north-east Wales that you represent, which haven’t been, traditionally, Welsh-speaking areas. I remember that one of my first visits as a Minister in this Assembly was to the Eisteddfod in Flintshire. I think it was a great experience for many of...
Alun Davies: Responsibility for the payment of the tuition fee grant transferred from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to the Welsh Government with effect from 1 April 2015. The technical adjustment of £21.1 million was confirmation of the final transfer of the ring-fenced budget outlined in the 2016 ministerial remit letter to HEFCW.
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, the Member is at least consistent in asking the same question to a number of different Ministers and committees at different times, but I will disappoint the Member by giving the same answer as those Ministers have already given him. He’s received his letter on 15 March. I’m very happy, Presiding Officer, to test your patience again and read it in its entirety onto the...
Alun Davies: Well, you’re aware, through the conversations that we’ve had previously here, that we’re making the funds available to HEFCW that they require in order to deliver the sort of higher education experience and investment that we want to achieve in Wales. But let me say this: I think we need to go further, sometimes, than simply funding the higher education estate and establishment in order...
Alun Davies: The digital competence framework was made available to schools and settings in September 2016. Schools and settings throughout Wales are being helped to develop the delivery of the framework through the digital pioneers and regional consortia.
Alun Davies: I agree with the fundamental point that the Member makes, that all schools have to have equal access to broadband to ensure that pupils are able to take advantage of these opportunities, which should be available to them. There are 23 schools, in fact, that currently do not have the superfast broadband that we require. We recognise the importance of equal access. The Cabinet Secretary has...
Alun Davies: We have set out our national mission to improve education attainment through a programme of education reforms across Wales, including Pembrokeshire. These include the development of a new curriculum and assessment reform, improved initial teacher education, teachers’ professional learning, building leadership capacity and reducing the attainment gap.
Alun Davies: I believe that each one of us welcomes the news that Paul has shared with us. Having said that, the Assembly itself, of course, runs exceptionally good schemes, and I have seen the success of the Assembly Commission’s schemes in schools in Blaenau Gwent in my own constituency. They’ve had opportunities to visit the Senedd and also to come and learn more about the Senedd and the Assembly...
