David Rees: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Trefnydd, last year, the Children, Young People and Education Committee produced a report on perinatal mental health. The excellent work that they produced had a very positive response from the Welsh Government, and I know the Welsh Government have taken action on some of those recommendations. However, one of those major recommendations was the introduction of a...
David Rees: Minister, in your answer to the question from Nick Ramsay, I'm very keen and very pleased to hear that you actually recognise vocational education as being equivalent to academic pathways. And it's a shame that not enough young people—or their parents in particular, sometimes—understand the same thing. Because to ensure that we have that parity, to ensure that the skills that we need in...
David Rees: ...play through the agency process. I have seen an e-mail from one of those agencies, which has won some of those frameworks—actually, 22 of them, so it's across all of Wales—which indicates to schools a way of getting around and circumventing the framework and encouraging schools to think about employing teachers out of the framework, therefore reducing the cost but also reducing the...
David Rees: Thank you for that response, Minister. I would like to ask about school transport, which is a theme similar to Llyr's question—he's gone now. Encouraging pupils to receive Welsh-medium education is a key factor in ensuring the Welsh Government's ambition of a million Welsh speakers. Recently, Neath Port Talbot council proposed changes to school transport that has seen an additional charge...
David Rees: ...several Bills that have huge consequences if we don't have a transition period following departure. Have you also done any further analysis, following the work done by Cardiff University's business school, which you published before, because that was a few months or a while back? Where are we today in your analysis of the economic impact? Because you, I'm assuming—and it's been mentioned...
David Rees: ...possible? The first one is on the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008. Now, earlier this year Neath Port Talbot council actually put proposals forward that would have increased charges upon post-16 education travel for those going to Welsh-medium education, going to faith schools, and also in the additional learning needs areas. There is an opportunity here now—and I welcome the decision...
David Rees: ...the difficulties they're facing. They're facing challenges and barriers. They are exhausted, they are shattered and tired. They're going to deal with their children. They're going into the school to try and fight for their children. They're going into the education system to fight for their children, and some of those children are now adults as well. Employment issues are still to be...
David Rees: ...group from the honorary consulate in Wales, to hear them highlight how they as a family, or their children, were actually still told to go home—and they were children going to a Welsh-medium school. It's a message I want to continue to relay during the months ahead of us. It's something I think every Member in this Chamber will want to join with me in relaying—that Wales will always be...
David Rees: ...in discussing its role in the young carers ID card that could be used. Can you ask the Deputy Minister to perhaps produce a written statement during the recess on young carers, who are leaving school this week for six weeks—not for a break, but six weeks of caring for whoever they care for; it's continuing—and going back into, possibly, an education environment in September, and they...
David Rees: ...and see how we can actually ensure local authorities deliver the support needed when a child has a diagnosis, has those needs identified but, in a situation like this—he's going into a new school in September and doesn't know whether the support that has been given in a statement will be given to him yet.
David Rees: ...the remainers. Actually, following the referendum in 2016, the decline happened then. So, it wasn't uncertainty; it was the fear of what leaving would mean for EU citizens within the UK and their education status. It's not the remainers who have anything to do with it; it's actually the whole process that's at fault.
David Rees: Diolch. I'd like this afternoon to perhaps join colleagues in appreciating the efforts and the commitment of the higher education sector in Wales and the positive impact it has on civil life as well as our economy. As Helen Mary has indicated, I'm proud to have been a part of that before I became an Assembly Member. For many years, I worked in the sector. I do recognise that, over those years...
David Rees: I thank you for that answer, First Minister. It's quite clear that we need to make sure that post-16 education takes us forward. Delivery of post-16 education, as we know, is either through our schools' sixth forms, or through our further education institutions. Now, the FE sector welcomes the comments you've just made, particularly in relation to the vocational arm of the direction of...
David Rees: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the actions the Welsh Government is taking to strengthen post-16 education in Wales? OAQ54029
David Rees: Can I thank the First Minister for that answer? Clearly, apprenticeships have been linked to education qualifications for many, many years—ONCs, HNCs—and now the degree apprenticeships are a step forward and very much welcomed. But, I understand in Wales we have two frameworks that are currently operational and we have not yet expanded those two frameworks. I'm very pleased to hear you...
David Rees: ...seat at the Cabinet. However, it is clear to us that many aspects of international relations are cross-portfolio, and therefore we want to actually see more examples of that: economy, environment, education portfolios. It is clear that it is not a single subject area. We want the Minister to lead on that co-ordination across Government, and, in the report, we did recommend a Cabinet...
David Rees: Minister, health and well-being goes beyond school. We also need to look at further education colleges and colleges post 16 as well, where there is not necessarily a compulsory time. But participation in competitive sport and other non-competitive physical activities can help schools and colleges to ensure that there are ample opportunities for learners to be aware of their own individual...
David Rees: ...is possible that EU students may be now required to pay full fees—full overseas fees, I might add—which is completely going to put people off coming here and it's going to affect Welsh higher education institutions—a devolved area. It's going to affect Welsh HE research collaboration—a devolved area. So, are you having negotiations on those matters? You haven't mentioned much in...
David Rees: ...campus for young students, and they expressed a very deep interest in the future curriculum. One of the questions that they raised with me—and I'm sure this will be in the curriculum—is the education of citizenship, in one sense, and political movements, because, clearly, they will be looking at votes at 16 and 17 in years to come, and the Assembly is going to put this Bill through....
David Rees: ...just those two teams on the pitches. The Ospreys have embraced the regional concept very much and they work with our local communities. They have Ospreys in the Community, they go and meet with the schools, they work with science, technology, engineering and mathematics groups and organisations to promote STEM and other career pathways. There is a lot more going on. They're actually one of...
