Andrew RT Davies: Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's targets for the 2021 PISA education tests?
Andrew RT Davies: ..., does get the houses built that we require to meet a modern, dynamic economy, and ultimately, does take on the serious concerns that many constituents raise about the provision of GP surgeries, schools and transport infrastructure?
Andrew RT Davies: ..., and indeed his successive Governments, have failed to achieve for Wales. You cannot walk away from the successive PISA tables that have shown, regrettably, that we have not enjoyed the success in education that we all want to see—take the politics out of it; we all want to see a better education system. It's not much good saying, 'We can wait till 2022 when the new curriculum comes...
Andrew RT Davies: ...summer for consideration. I would like to reflect on an issue that is in my own particular area, and I appreciate that the Cabinet Secretary will not be able to speak directly to the Llancarfan school closure, which she has heard me speak on many times in this Chamber, but she did indicate that the code, even though it wasn't in force when various notices were issued on that...
Andrew RT Davies: ...to 2011 Assembly, I well remember an exercise similar to this being undertaken in that particular Assembly, when we went down to west Wales looking at the challenges that local authorities face and schools face and communities face in maintaining their local education network. Because it's really important to reflect that a rural school is the heart of that community. It creates an energy...
Andrew RT Davies: Minister, obviously, it's welcome news that new schools are opening up to provide Welsh-medium education, not just in Cardiff, but across the whole of Wales. But one thing that is really important is the ability to supply those schools with quality teachers able to teach the curriculum. With the devolution of teachers' pay and conditions, what analysis has the Government taken about many...
Andrew RT Davies: Twenty-first century schools, First Minister, as we've heard you many times say, is about improving the school estate across Wales. In my own electoral region, the Vale of Glamorgan Council are proposing to shut a small rural school that has a good role to it, has a bright future ahead of it—Llancarfan school. I appreciate you can't talk about the specific case, but surely it is not right...
Andrew RT Davies: ...to work on multiple fronts to make the improvements we want to see—from labelling to improvements in infrastructure and above all, I would suggest, as I said in the statement yesterday, around education in particular. The amendment that we've put down includes the Lucy's law proposal, which I think is vital for us to actually try and progress here in Wales when it comes to domestic pets,...
Andrew RT Davies: ...this area. So, the sooner we can legislate in this field, I know that many members of the public and, indeed, Members on this side of the Chamber would be very grateful. The responsibilities around education of the public are really important. The Cabinet Secretary touches on the work that Julie Morgan, the Member for Cardiff North, has done around the postal workers union, as well, and...
Andrew RT Davies: ...at 16 will be coming into play in Wales. But at every opportunity—and this is where I agree with the Member for Pontypridd—young people have indicated that they do feel that they require more education to understand the role that they will play when it comes to casting their vote. Could the Cabinet Secretary give a little bit more information as to how she sees that educational element...
Andrew RT Davies: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's funding for education across South Wales Central?
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that answer. Just before the summer recess, you issued new guidance in relation to rural schools—something that was welcomed. Obviously, that guidance will come into effect later on in the year. I'd be grateful to understand what weight local authorities should place on that specific guidance that you've put out there, at the moment. As I understand, it...
Andrew RT Davies: 3. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the advice the Welsh Government currently provides to local authorities in relation to rural school closures? OAQ52595
Andrew RT Davies: ...the issues around congestion in the village of Dinas Powys, and the blight it puts on people's lives there, especially with air pollution and noise in particular, where that road passes several schools—primary schools, I might add—and will you identify this as a top priority for the Welsh Government, and work with the Vale of Glamorgan Council to take forward the plans that are...
Andrew RT Davies: ...you on the legislative programme. I visited a charity in Cardiff North recently, Tomorrow's Generation, and they specialise in providing support for children who suffer with dyslexia in mainstream education. They made the point that in many countries across Europe—Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland and in England—the legislative framework that gives rights to children who are...
Andrew RT Davies: ...with the sector whatsoever when it came to the formation of this report. Now, again, I appreciate, in the letter that the Minister sent to me in March, that he says that the Bangor Business School's report was about the level of forecast of tax revenues—it wasn’t exactly about the policy. But, surely, you need to be linking the policy with the forecast, because if you get the policy...
Andrew RT Davies: Well, Leader of the house, when it comes to education, many of the things that can be done to improve life chances for young people are within the gift of the Welsh Government, and, sadly, the achievement has been hindered by some of the policies that have been brought forward by previous Labour Governments. But in the field of dyslexia, there's a real poverty of ambition in trying to improve...
Andrew RT Davies: Minister, twenty-first century schools has offered the opportunity for local authorities to work with Government in redeveloping their school estate. You may or may not be familiar with the closure plans for a small rural school in the Vale of Glamorgan, Llancarfan school, and relocating to a new site in the village of Rhoose. One of the concerns—
Andrew RT Davies: South Wales Central area—twenty-first century schools. I thought Cardiff was part of South Wales Central. Sorry, Presiding Officer.
Andrew RT Davies: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government guidance for supporting and maintaining rural primary schools in South Wales Central?
