Kirsty Williams: Just to clarify for the Member, I meet regularly with my counterparts in Scotland and England. We have set up regular quadrilateral meetings at my request. And, despite assurances that were given to me at the last meeting by Minister Skidmore, it is disappointing that his civil servants did not feel able to properly brief my civil servants ahead of the publication of the Augar report, which...
Kirsty Williams: Well, as the Member will be aware, we have a reform programme with regard to the practices of supply teacher agencies. The new framework will be on stream before the start of the new academic year, which will provide for minimum rates of pay for those staff employed by those agencies, better employment rights, guaranteed access to training. The Member makes a very good point with regard to...
Kirsty Williams: Teacher recruitment is challenging not just within Wales, but, actually, it's an international issue. The statistics that the Member refers to relate to the academic year 2017-18, and, since then, we have undertaken a major reform across initial teacher education. And whilst we have missed our targets with regard to full-time recruits to these programmes, applications to our graduate teacher...
Kirsty Williams: Well, Presiding Officer, given that the question is about schools in the south Wales Valleys, can I give a warm welcome to Tredegar Comprehensive School pupils, who I think have joined us in the viewing gallery this afternoon? Tredegar comprehensive is the old school of Alun Davies AM. I'm not sure whether the children have a suitable role model in Mr Davies, but it's something to aspire to....
Kirsty Williams: The Welsh Government, regional consortia and local authorities are collectively supporting schools in the south Wales Valleys—and, indeed, throughout the whole of Wales—to improve educational outcomes, in line with the priorities in 'Our national mission'.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you for that. You're correct—the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities can have a very positive effect on mental health and well-being for our children, and an inability, or a worry that you won't be able to do that can have the opposite effect. And that's why, as I said, we have commissioned Children in Wales to produce these resources and guides for schools, so...
Kirsty Williams: I am familiar with the phenomenon that is the prom, and it's a world away from the senior school discos I'm sure we all attended. The cost of the school day is an issue that I'm very interested in. I am fully aware of the significant impact it can have on some children, often from groups that would benefit most from those extra-curricular and out-of-school activities. I have asked Children in...
Kirsty Williams: Equity of provision for all learners constitutes a major priority for this Government. I strongly encourage schools to ensure that inclusivity and equity are at the forefront of all decision making when it comes to any activities that could lead to additional costs for families.
Kirsty Williams: The regional education consortia work closely in partnership with local authorities to promote high standards of education and the fulfilment of learning potential. The year-on-year increase in the number of schools needing the least amount of support demonstrates the effectiveness of regional ways of working.
Kirsty Williams: Private schools by their very nature are independent of Welsh Government in terms of their finance and governance. Any school that meets the definition of an independent school must be registered with Welsh Ministers.
Kirsty Williams: Reducing our carbon footprint is hugely important to us. All new-build education facilities should achieve BREEAM 'excellent', have an energy performance certificate rating of A, and use 15 per cent recycled materials as a condition of grant. We have also expanded and refocused the curriculum to include sustainability and decarbonisation.
Kirsty Williams: Under our local management of schools arrangements, governing bodies and local authorities are responsible for contracting supply teachers. We are supporting employers via a revised National Procurement Service agency framework, which protects agency workers’ rights and offers schools a choice of supplier, and are trialling a direct employment school-based cluster pilot.
Kirsty Williams: Well, it is clear to me, and it is clear to Estyn, that this is indeed an issue that they should be reporting on—how a school ensures that healthy food and drink are available to the children in school. And, as I said, I'm very disappointed that any school would restrict access to free drinking water for children. It is quite clear in the Measure and, as I said, on 13 March of this year,...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I begin by thanking Jenny for raising this important issue? Unquestionably, healthy school meals can make a contribution to pupils' well-being, their attainment and positive behaviour. We have done a lot of work to ensure our children have healthier food in our schools, however I do believe that we can do more. Improving the health and...
Kirsty Williams: Well, John, you're right, I am familiar with it and officials have met with representatives from Newport City Council and the Newport economic network to discuss the content of the report and the exciting vision that it presents. There are meetings planned with existing providers and other stakeholders to consider the proposal and what the next steps could be to develop it even further.
Kirsty Williams: It's a good job the Presiding Officer found you, John; it's a most excellent question. We are working to deliver a new curriculum for all learners by 2022. It'll be purpose led so that by the age of 16 they should be capable, confident, ethical individuals who play an active part in their community and society, and are prepared to thrive in the world of work.
Kirsty Williams: I've been very, very clear that I don't want to put any limitations on the aspirations of Welsh young people to study in institutions either in their home nation or in the rest of the United Kingdom, or, indeed, internationally. Of course, what we need to do in Wales is to ensure that the quality of our offer is strong, and I believe that it is, but secondly look at what we can do to persuade...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Mandy. Further education colleges across Wales do excellent work in planning their curriculum to reflect employer needs, and in preparing students at all levels to progress into further learning and employment that reflects their skills and their personal aspirations.
Kirsty Williams: As the Member will be more than aware, the decision on individual funding for schools is a matter for each individual local authority. With regards to the funding formula, I think the Member is referring to the funding formula for local government as a whole. You will be aware that there is a funding formula review group that regularly looks at different aspects of the revenue support grant...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Leanne. I don't doubt for a minute the significant challenges that many headteachers are facing with regards to school budgets. It is important to recognise that the responsibility for day-to-day funding of schools lies with individual local education authorities. Like you, I share the ambition of ensuring that as much money gets to the front line as possible, and that's, for...
