Kirsty Williams: Presiding Officer, it clearly hasn't done you or David Melding any harm as to when you were born. Thank you, Rhun. The Cabinet Secretary for health provided a detailed update on medical education in Wales in his letter to Assembly Members sent on 13 November. This confirmed that the first full programme of medical education to be offered in north Wales will commence in 2019.
Kirsty Williams: Well, David, as I said, the current code does allow for school admission authorities to be flexible in responding to requests from parents. As we carry out this review, we will be analysing how many requests have been made, how those requests have been dealt with, and, as I said, we are keen to hear the view from parents who have concerns in this area. And should I deem it necessary, then we...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Joyce. I would agree that the start of a child's schooling can be an anxious time as well as an exciting time, and sometimes even more so for parents than it is for the individual child. I remember being left devastated at the school gates as my daughter tripped into school without a look backward, leaving me feeling very inadequate. Of course, our youngest children are entitled...
Kirsty Williams: Parents can request that their summer-born child starts school aged five in a reception class. The code is clear that admission authorities should consider requests carefully and make decisions on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with parents and the school, and specifically in relation to the best interests of the child.
Kirsty Williams: We strive to ensure that excellent facilities are available to our learners. Our twenty-first century schools and education programme has encompassed a wide variety of schemes catering for the different needs of all learners and communities.
Kirsty Williams: Twenty-nine new GCSEs and 29 A-Levels have been introduced in Wales following the review of qualifications in 2012. The new qualifications have been rolled out over three years between 2015 and 2017 and over £10 million was made available to support schools with their introduction.
Kirsty Williams: We are introducing a new National Procurement Service agency framework that supports fair work; piloting school-based supply cluster arrangements as an alternative direct employment model; developing plans to introduce quality assurance standards and delivering on our commitment to fund professional learning for all teachers including supply teachers.
Kirsty Williams: GCSE summer outcomes remained broadly stable considering the impact of a change in early entry activity and the introduction of 15 new examinations. It was particularly pleasing to see improvement at the top grades from the previous year, which will help pupils go on to further study or training.
Kirsty Williams: Local authorities are responsible for planning of school places. When proposing significant changes to schools they must comply with the school organisation code and take into account a range of factors, the prime consideration being the interests of learners. Proposals affecting school sixth forms require the approval of Welsh Ministers.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Jenny. I'm very happy to join you in congratulating Cardiff University for the significant work that they have done in this particular field. We have been very careful in trying to design this scheme to complement what our universities are already doing, and it's certainly not to absolve them of any responsibility that they need and are taking in this regard. As I said...
Kirsty Williams: You make a very good point, because often these are issues to do with aspiration and actually creating that spark within the individual to seek out these opportunities. The research shows us that people from a disadvantaged background are least likely to seek out these opportunities, so this is about raising aspiration. As I said earlier in answer to Janet Finch-Saunders, some of the...
Kirsty Williams: With regard to the ongoing challenge of recruiting international students, of course, this is not helped by the determination of the UK Government to include students as part of the immigration figures. Nobody sees international students as immigrants, only Theresa May and the Home Office. Poll after poll after poll show that the public do not view international students in this way, and...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you for the series of questions, Bethan. Let me be absolutely clear, Welsh universities and colleges are open for business, and not just to international students, who, as you say, bring a depth to our university towns in what they bring with them, but also, of course, faculty as well. International faculty is a key strength in our sector, and a significant number of our lecturing staff...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank Janet for that question? Could I make it absolutely clear that the reason why we are going for relatively short periods for the pilot is to allow for students that do perhaps have other responsibilities, who could not afford the time to take a year abroad, which is perhaps traditionally what many students would see as a period of international study? These short placements, for...
Kirsty Williams: I want to see the number of Welsh students who spend time abroad as part of their studies double by the end of this Government. As someone who benefited hugely from time studying abroad as an undergraduate, I know how such an experience broadens horizons, expands key skills and ensures connections that last a lifetime. Research from Universities UK points out that these gains are particularly...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Only 2 per cent of Welsh students at universities currently spend time abroad studying, volunteering or undertaking work experience as part of their studies. At a time when it’s never been more important for our students and graduates to be global citizens, for there to be stronger cultural and economic links between Wales and the world, and for...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Lynne, and I'm glad that we've been able to use the committee's report and the evidence that was taken to help inform and shape Government policy. As Suzy Davies said earlier, that's one of the strengths of our system, I believe. I'm a great believer in, also, the principle that Government and civil servants don't have all the answers, and it is important to use the recommendations...
Kirsty Williams: Presiding Officer, sorry, I must have been mistaken, because I thought that the Children, Young People and Education Committee that made their No. 1 commitment around resulting professional development for the curriculum was a unanimous report that was signed off by all members of the committee and the last I remember Michelle Brown was a member of that committee, so she was well aware of the...
Kirsty Williams: Diolch yn fawr, Siân, and I'm so sorry for the disruption in making you start again. My Welsh is improving, but it's a blwyddyn 2 or blwyddyn 3 standard, and not good enough for the Chamber. I think what I absolutely welcome is your understanding that without excellence in the teaching workforce, we cannot realise, I believe, a shared endeavour across this Chamber to provide first-class...
Kirsty Williams: I'm so sorry—
