Kirsty Williams: I'm sure the Member will be delighted that, just prior to coming to the Chamber this afternoon, I was able to announce in our Seren event that the Seren foundation programme and the principles of Seren, which currently kick in for children after they've done their GCSEs, will now be rolling out for students from year 8. Some of the innovative projects that have already been undertaken in the...
Kirsty Williams: I'm sure the Member is aware of the work that is currently being undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Estyn and individual schools to develop a self-evaluation toolkit, which will actually help us identify best practice in schools, not just in terms of academic achievements, but also in areas outside formal qualifications. Because we expect schools, yes,...
Kirsty Williams: Well, what we've done, Oscar, after a period in which we were not able to commission Careers Wales to be providing a service in schools, we have those trained careers advisers back in our school settings, and, more importantly, we're currently running a Gatsby pilot in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area to explore best practice. The results of that pilot will help us develop an even better careers...
Kirsty Williams: What's important to recognise is that the investment that's been made available to support better mental health in our higher education sector is not simply just to be used for students. It is actually to replicate, in the same way as we're trying to develop a whole-school approach to mental health, which affects both children and professional staff—that the same is done in our universities...
Kirsty Williams: Well, you're absolutely correct in saying that these are serious allegations that have been made, and my expectation is that the university will deal with them promptly, coherently and completely, and address any issues of individual behaviour or, more importantly perhaps, to address the entire culture of an individual department or school or the university as a whole. As I said, we take this...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Member for raising this very important issue? There is no place for racism anywhere in the Welsh education system, whether that be in our schools, our colleges and our universities. We have had discussions as a Government with the university and with the students union involved, and I understand that there is ongoing dialogue between them both. All universities have to have...
Kirsty Williams: Well, the organisation and planning for local schools of whichever medium of tuition is a matter, quite rightly, for local education authorities. What Welsh Government has is an enabling role, and the role of encouraging those education authorities to push the boundaries. And as I said, we have set out our expectations very clearly of the increase in the number of children that we would...
Kirsty Williams: Clearly, within the constraints of the very difficult financial settlement the Government is faced with, I’m determined to get as much money to the front line and into individual schools’ budgets as possible. Of course, financial resource is one thing; human resource is also a challenge and I recognise that. That’s why those seeking to qualify as teachers through the medium of Welsh...
Kirsty Williams: Well, Huw, I'm very glad to hear about the celebrations that have already been happening in your local area. And I think it's fair to say that we have come a long way since the first Welsh-medium school was opened, in the Presiding Officer's constituency, in Aberystwyth, in 1939. But I would be the first to admit that we need to work harder, and with more ambition, in order to readdress the...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Huw. Seventy years of Welsh-medium education in the Llynfi area will be celebrated. Partners in the Welsh language sector will celebrate that achievement through the borough in the annual Ogi Ogi Ogwr festival, organised by Menter Bro Ogwr, which I understand will take place on 14 July.
Kirsty Williams: I have to say I'm very concerned to hear from you those reports that children are being refused the opportunity to undertake a statutory assessment for their additional learning needs. As you are quite right to say, the new legislation, which was passed by this Assembly in 2018, has not come into effect. We are currently consulting on the code and the subordinate legislation that will...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Leanne. Equity and inclusion are at the heart of our national mission for education. Our education reforms will ensure that all learners can access a high standard of education and, crucially, reach their full potential.
Kirsty Williams: Our national mission for Wales sets out how education in Wales is moving forward to secure the effective implementation of the new curriculum. The continuing education reforms ensure all learners have access to a high standard of education.
Kirsty Williams: I introduced pupil development grant—access in 2018-19 to provide additional support directly to families, helping those who need it most to meet some of the costs associated with the school day. In 2019-20, we have more than doubled the funding for this support to £5.145 million.
Kirsty Williams: What country would want to curtail the ambitions of its citizens to study at first-class institutions wherever they would be? That would be an inward-looking nation, not an outward-looking nation that wants to give its students those opportunities to fulfil their potential wherever that potential may best be supported.
Kirsty Williams: Yes, I will.
Kirsty Williams: Well, I'm glad that somebody here recognises the hard work and the success of the scheme, but also, apart from supporting those students, our student support package has seen a massive increase in the new applications for part-time and postgraduate students, and that's proof that this reform is working. It's delivering for social mobility, it's delivering for economic opportunity, and it is...
Kirsty Williams: Supporting, Presiding Officer, a sustainable and world-renowned higher education system is a priority for this Government, and we do indeed have a robust statutory framework of regulation in place that assures both the quality and the financial sustainability of the sector. And if some Members need reminding, many people in this very Chamber passed the Higher Education (Wales) Act 2015 that...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Any opportunity to discuss and promote our higher education sector is always a welcome one. And in speaking in favour of the Government's amendment, I more than recognise the challenges facing the sector, including Brexit, the decline in the number of 18-year-olds, and domestic and global competition. But I also welcome the success of the sector and,...
Kirsty Williams: Formally.
