Kirsty Williams: Presiding Officer, I have not scrapped the education improvement grant.
Kirsty Williams: Well, Llyr, I would reiterate that stance here today. I do expect restraint from my vice-chancellors in Welsh universities, and you will be aware that HEFCW, working with the sector, have published a report regarding pay levels in Welsh universities, and our vice-chancellors are not out of kilter with those across the UK. But in terms of social justice, what's really important to me is...
Kirsty Williams: As I've said, Llyr, we have urged all parties involved to get around the table, and I was encouraged by the decision for parties to get back around the negotiation table and to have that work assisted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. I think that gives us the best chance of finding a solution here to this significant problem. As I said, the direct role that...
Kirsty Williams: Well, Llyr, I have met with both UK-wide officials of UCU as well as Welsh representation, and I continue to be in correspondence with them. Unfortunately, because of the bad weather in Cardiff on Saturday, I was unable to attend the UCU conference, because the conference was cancelled. Officials keep in close touch with both the employers and the employees, and I have, at every opportunity,...
Kirsty Williams: I don't want to pre-empt the final discussions and decisions that I will make with regard to that report. And I have given a commitment here this afternoon, Michelle, that, having done that, I will come back to the Chamber with a full statement on how we intend to develop policy in this area. I have to say, we don't allow parents to take their children out of maths lessons, or English...
Kirsty Williams: Well, of course, parents have rights and responsibilities, but, sometimes, the issues that you're talking about are beyond a parent's control. I remember only too well, when my own children were very small, going into a very well-known high street retailer to find in that shop the dressing up costumes for doctors were in the boys' toy section and the dressing up section for girls had a...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you for that question. On coming into office, I was concerned that current SRE provision is not as good as it should be, and listening to children and young people, as I travel around schools in Wales, they have been very clear with me that the current SRE provision often doesn't meet their individual needs. That's why I commissioned Professor Emma Renold of Cardiff University, who is...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, David. I couldn't agree more with the analysis that you just gave of the importance of international students and, indeed, international staff who come to study and work at our universities. And I've been clear that students from the European Union, and beyond, remain very welcome in Wales and will continue to be very welcome in Wales. I have good news for the Chamber: UCAS data on...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, David. We're working closely with Universities Wales, the British Council Wales and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, through the Global Wales partnership, to build collaborative opportunities and support increased promotional activity, such as the delivery of the Study in Wales brand in key markets.
Kirsty Williams: Well, I'm glad that we've got the same figures; it would not have been a very positive start if we had a different set of categorisation data between us. You're absolutely right, Nick, to identify that school improvement is a joint endeavour, between the staff and the leadership of individual schools, the local education authority. And I would like to pay tribute to Councillor Fox, I believe,...
Kirsty Williams: Of course. Categorisation provides a clear picture of how well schools are doing and the level of support they need to do even better. This year, Monmouthshire has seen an increase in the primary schools in the green category, which is a testament to the hard work of the staff at the schools and is something to be celebrated.
Kirsty Williams: 'Education in Wales: Our national mission' is clear on our commitment to ensure all learners in Wales are fully supported to reach their potential. Working with partners, we are determined to overcome the particular challenges that face some groups of learners, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller learners.
Kirsty Williams: By explicitly including well-being in 'Education in Wales: Our national mission', I have put out a clear message that the well-being of learners is important and that schools need to focus on this. This will be supported by the new curriculum, developments in professional learning and the CAMHS in-reach pilot.
Kirsty Williams: I am committed to ensuring that all young people receive high quality healthy relationships education during their time at school. I am currently considering how the findings of the sex and relationship education expert panel can enhance healthy relationships provision for those learning under the current and new curriculum.
Kirsty Williams: The creative use of technology and digital skills is vital for our children’s future success. This will feature strongly in our new curriculum, but we are already strengthening learning in this area. Last June, I launched Cracking the Code to boost coding skills in schools with investment over £1.3 million.
Kirsty Williams: It is a matter for Estyn what they include in their report—it's not a matter for me—but I do not believe that going to a system of league tables that pits school against school, teacher against teacher, will help us to build the collaborative system that we need, and what the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development tells us that we need here in Wales. But what the inspector...
Kirsty Williams: Yes, of course.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I'll try to get through as many of the comments and questions that were raised as possible in the time allowed. I think that what's really important, Llyr, is that the chief inspector recognises that there is a significant shift in the culture of education in Wales. We have to rely on those people out on the ground to make the changes we need to make. Whether you...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Could I thank everybody for their contributions this afternoon?
Kirsty Williams: Yes. [Interruption.] I'll try to get through as many of them as I—
