Hannah Blythyn: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Cornist Park primary school in Flint, in my constituency, has been recognised as a digital pioneer school, where the headteacher, Nicola Thomas, has put digital technologies at the centre of their teaching and learning and has supported pupils to be able to take the lead on this themselves. Pupils have led on projects, which include raising awareness,...
Hannah Blythyn: ...technology in this and the difference that can make, in terms of the website and with the national assessment and monitoring centre. And I think I mentioned in this place before the role of schools and education, and I think we've talked before about the role for eco-schools and the monitoring projects that some of them will be doing. If they find levels of exceedance near the school,...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank the Member for her question and highlighting some of the excellent work that is happening in schools in her own constituency of the Rhondda, but also right across Wales? I think it's really important to talk about this and also share it so we can support teachers and organisations elsewhere, and my colleague the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles recently...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome the opportunity to have this short debate today: School of Politics—Empowering the Next Generation of Active Citizens in Wales. It’s perhaps a shame that the debate has actually fallen on today’s debate, on the eve of poll of the local elections, but given today’s short debate is focusing on enabling more active participation in politics,...
Hannah Blythyn: ...attacks or just those remarks that make you feel that you can't be yourself and feel uncomfortable. I know that we are working very closely across Government with my colleague the Minister for education to ensure that not only are schools safe places and that children and young people have the support, but, actually, teachers and educators have the right resources and the confidence to...
Hannah Blythyn: ...in practice. And can I also pass on my thanks and recognition to Ollie for speaking so candidly about this and sharing the experiences of young people, which, sadly, is still happening, not just in schools but in different settings across Wales? It makes me particularly sad, because I was bullied at school because—I think I've said in here before—other children saw something in me that...
Hannah Blythyn: ...LGBT people, whilst, at the same time, outlining the challenges that remain and the next steps needed. The themes of LGBT History Month this year are citizenship, personal, social and health education and law, and there are over 1,000 events happening across the UK. Schools that celebrate difference and take a positive approach to including LGBT issues in their teaching across the...
Hannah Blythyn: 3. Will the Minister provide an update on citizenship and political education in schools? OAQ(5)0055(EDU)
Hannah Blythyn: ...sense. And it's access for young people, the Plant! project, for example, and I'm pleased that the strategy just emphasised the role that woodlands and green space, forest, play in terms of education, because I don't think you can underestimate that, for some children, getting them outside in a forest school, taking part in eco-schools, you see a complete change and the opportunities that...
Hannah Blythyn: ...cultural change too. We know that a lot of people now take it as the norm to separate and do their recycling and have separate waste collection. In terms of your second question, in terms of the education, that's such a huge part of it, and one of the most enjoyable things I've found in this portfolio so far is doing the eco-schools work. The children, they are so well informed. I went to...
Hannah Blythyn: ...our monitoring, what is the best solution, what is the action needed in certain places and what best suits those places and what the problem is. I think one alternative with that, in terms of schools—and you've all raised that today—I think I'd go back to this behavioural change, and this generational shift and bringing the younger generation with us in terms of tackling any pollution...
Hannah Blythyn: ...committee at Ysgol Croes Atti in Flint, which raises awareness of environmental issues locally and encourages learners to promote a healthier and greener future. And, of course, the Ysgol Merllyn school parliament that I was pleased to welcome here a couple of weeks ago, and I know that you actually met them. They actually have a proper election campaign and an election day, and the...
Hannah Blythyn: ..., for standing your ground and doing the right thing, but I wouldn't expect anything else from you, Mike Hedges. That shadow of section 28 still hangs over us. It still hangs over many teachers and schools who are still nervous about wanting to do the right thing, but may feel nervous. That's why the education part of this action plan, and the work we're already doing with our inclusive...
Hannah Blythyn: ...that the emphasis needs to be on year-round and working in partnership. So, while the fire service are the ones on the front line, so to speak, a lot of support has been placed into prevention, the education programmes within schools and those groups deemed at risk, and that can only be done, like you said, in partnership with other stakeholders, such as Natural Resources Wales, the police...
Hannah Blythyn: ...we need to make sure we ensure that equity of opportunity across the nation. I’m also pleased to a see a strong emphasis on partnership working between local government, the third sector, and education facilities, particularly including greater links with schools, and I know, in a previous response, you said about how we invest in schools and encourage collaboration. I’m aware that...
Hannah Blythyn: And the second is educating both children and parents on air quality issues and exploring solutions collectively, such as car sharing and no idling policies around schools. To support this guidance, I will provide funding to raise air quality awareness through the Eco-Schools initiative and the Young Dragons project. In fact, I met with pupils and staff at Pen-Y-Bryn school in Cardiff just...
Hannah Blythyn: ...Pride events across Wales. We have already given support to Swansea Pride and North Wales Pride, and discussions are under way with Pride in the Port in Newport. We are enabling more inclusive education, with Welsh Government providing national guidance for schools by the end of this year to help them fully support transgender pupils. This is being done as part of the whole-school approach...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you. You're obviously referring to that role that young people are playing, particularly in schools, in driving this change, and the power of pester power as well because I think there's no loyalty to the grown-ups or to the parents when we're not doing it probably. I remember in one school, we were talking about what you recycled and why, and where it went, and one little girl put her...
Hannah Blythyn: ...its final stages, in my constituency. In fact, I was wondering whether I should declare a tenuous and random interest as the site is of significant importance to me as it was the predecessor school of Holywell Grammar School where my parents met in the sixth form. But, fast forward to the twenty-first century and, today, twenty-first century schools, it’s more than bricks and mortar, as...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for the question. I obviously want to start by offering my congratulations to St Teilo’s school for what sounds like an absolutely fantastic initiative, and one that’s to be very rightly applauded and recognised for the work that they’ve been taking. There are so many examples of such enthusiasm and ideas from young people in secondary and primary schools right across...
