Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...operate at the moment deals with what's covered within those recommendations? For example, I believe that there is a misunderstanding here about the nature of the changes to the curriculum that the education Minister is leading on at the moment. We are not in the—and I'm old enough to have been involved with the national curriculum back in the 1980s, and I'm very pleased to see that...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...we are looking at the whole question of the fitness and health of pupils in a holistic and community-based manner. I am very grateful to Huw Irranca-Davies particularly for referring to the latest school to have been built here in Cardiff Bay that the Minister for Education will officially open very soon. That school is an example and an inspiration in terms of how we can operate on a...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, what we've moved away from as Government now is the concept that a national curriculum should be imposed on schools, rather that the educational experience that is enjoyed within schools should develop within those schools, and we are seeking to place all of this in the context of the policies that have been developed across Government. For example, the 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales'...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...the inspiration that is delivered from academic sports study permeates the whole of the university culture. There is an important issue, I think, in the life cycle here: that, very often, pupils of school age will be very active physically, but only those who get involved with clubs tend to continue their activity into the teenage years and student life. And I think it is important that we...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...to encourage behavioural change by developing what we are calling a 'physical activity observatory'. That will then develop communications and campaigning work, and will integrate our programmes in schools, Dragon Sports, the healthy schools network and eco-schools so that all of this can be a comprehensive offer of physical activity to support the new curriculum. I'm very grateful to the...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...—then these trends are trends that, in my view, can only be dealt with practically by us as a Government by trying to undermine them. And that is by increasing the emphasis on constructive education on the media and in terms of social understanding of the nature of mass media. Many years ago, I taught in this area, and I think that we have lost that fundamental emphasis very often,...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...for that further question. This relates, of course, to the Government's more general approach towards issues of obesity and of healthy living. And we are looking to trying to establish within the school experience of young people an understanding that participation in physical activity and in the choice of sports activities in school is the foundation stone for a healthy lifestyle. We are...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: There are a range of projects benefiting communities in Islwyn, including 15 schools delivering the daily mile, four healthy and active fund projects working within communities, investment into active travel and safe routes to schools, sport development funding and four sites gaining the Green Flag Award scheme.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...might be able to encourage, and we will find a structure in which they will be supported, obviously working with the voluntary sector, the music sector and, where appropriate, obviously, with the education sector in different areas. I'm aware of your strong and committed support to music education, and you're absolutely right, the development of musical literacy, at all levels, is such a...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: As one who has been most fortunate to be able to contribute to education and governance across this system for very many years, may I first of all congratulate the Minister on her courage? It is about time that we had a Minister who is willing to get to grips with the differences and inequality that have been part of the post-16 system from the very outset. I’m grateful to her for doing...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...required for sites to ensure that they’re not misused and the deterrent that it would form for people if sites were, as it where, overprotected. So, I still have some faith in the potential of education and, in particular, the involvement of young people in conservation activities themselves—I can see that my colleague the education Minister is nodding—and the various programmes that...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...in sport. The remit of Sport Wales now includes a particular focus on encouraging women and girls to participate in physical activity. There is a particular programme where prominent athletes visit schools in order to ensure that a positive image of successful women in athletics is made public in our schools. There is a particular programme, namely the Young Ambassadors programme, which...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...Museum, opens its doors freely at its seven sites throughout Wales. It leads the sector in reaching out and engaging with socially diverse audiences across Wales, and I am fully aware, having been schooled by Professor Gwyn Alf Williams, that everything of value in the industrial revolution and radical politics in Wales began in Merthyr. [Laughter.]
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...much for telling me about Ringland Primary, and I certainly congratulate them, because this, to me, is the way that we must move. We must move holistically and on the basis of community and the school community itself, and the wider community.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...choral tradition, because all these traditional aspects of our life are something that we must continue to celebrate. I also understand the passion with which Rhianon Passmore is dedicated to music education. I will certainly be willing to co-operate with my colleague the Cabinet Minister for Education, and herself, and any other Members in or outside the Assembly who wish to pursue the...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, this is the whole point about shifting away from the traditional notions of physical activity and physical education as taught. It's an attempt to make physical activity attractive through interaction with those who have been successful in that field. It's not a matter of saying that we expect everyone to pursue elite sport, but we do expect everyone to pursue physical activity to their...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...the age cycle, regrettably. Some 32 per cent of people in Wales are inactive, and what we are trying to do is work through, with the sports council, and indeed with the Cabinet Secretary for Education, to ensure that the national curriculum and the new development in the curriculum lead to a greater level of physical activity throughout life.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...permeates through all provision. We are supportive of the development of all sorts of rugby at local levels. For example, last week, I was at the very special competition arranged by the WRU with schools and pupils with learning difficulties. There were 300 young people, led by Sport Caerphilly, who were participating in that festival of rugby. And I had an opportunity too to be at the...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...as the further investment coming in in Wrexham. These are ways in which we can develop maximum use of our facilities. And I do believe it's very important that public facilities, whether they're in education or in any other part of our lives, which have been put together with Government funding for public use, are available, not 24 hours, but at least throughout the evenings and weekends...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ...website, which is www.clubsolutions.wales, and that provides a full range of information about how clubs can be promoted, how they can use the media effectively, how they can create links between schools and the community. I'm certain that Sport Wales will be very keen, through that website and other facilities, to assist your local club. And then, of course, there is also the Football...
