Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Angela. The new, more rigorous, Welsh baccalaureate was introduced in September 2015, and I firmly believe learners in Wales will benefit from studying it. I still expect every school in Wales to deliver the Welsh bac at key stage 4 and all post-16 institutions to work towards full implementation by 2019-20.
Kirsty Williams: Sixth form provision provides an important route for learners accessing post-16 education in Wales. It provides a significant option for our learners supporting guided progression into HE, further learning and employment.
Kirsty Williams: To reiterate the First Minister’s earlier reply, up-to-date advice for trips is produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This advice is also signposted in the all-Wales guidance for education visits, written by the outdoor education advisers’ panel for Wales and the Health and Safety Executive. It is accessible from the Welsh Government’s website.
Kirsty Williams: Local authorities are responsible for sixth form education. When proposing change they must comply with the school organisation code, in the interest of learners, with the impact of proposals on the quality and standards of education being their prime consideration.
Kirsty Williams: I announced my plans for an extended pupil development grant in March. This investment is making a real difference to the lives of learners from deprived communities. I will continue to consider ways in which the investment can have an even greater impact on disadvantaged learners.
Kirsty Williams: The Welsh Government recognises the value of learners studying a modern foreign language and has invested in the Global Futures plan, which supports the teaching of modern foreign languages in schools, using innovative approaches and expertise from universities and language institutes.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to thank Hannah Blythyn very much for raising this important issue for debate here this afternoon and for taking the time to highlight the excellent practice in her own constituency, and her personal commitment in showing leadership in this issue in the schools from her constituency that visit the Senedd here. And can I add, in my...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Could I begin where David Melding left off, in thanking, most sincerely, Lynne Neagle and the members of the committee for their report? As stated by the Chair, the committee focused this inquiry on the impact of the new grant funding arrangements that were introduced in 2015-16, following the rationalisation of a number of education grants. Now,...
Kirsty Williams: On 15 March I published criteria for the accreditation of initial teacher education programmes to improve the quality and consistency of initial teacher education. The written ministerial statement issued on the same date details significant progress in our programme of reform.
Kirsty Williams: Pioneer schools are central to developing the new curriculum. A key role for the pioneers is working with each other and with other non-pioneers. This is at the heart of the pioneer network approach and aimed at ensuring that all schools have the opportunity to contribute to realising the new curriculum.
Kirsty Williams: The Welsh Government is committed to providing all children with an education that enables them to reach their full potential. Local authorities have a duty to meet the needs of children with special needs such as hearing impairment, the majority of whom are educated in mainstream schools with additional support.
Kirsty Williams: Our additional learning needs transformation programme aims to change the culture of how we support learners, including those with hearing impairments, to enable them to reach their full potential.
Kirsty Williams: Yes, and I think we have to be creative. We have to acknowledge that we are being outbid at present by the English system, so we have to be creative in what we can offer people. It’s not always about the money. People don’t go into teaching to make a huge amount of money, so we have to be creative in how we can use our bursary system to be able to attract people here. More able and...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Could I thank everybody for their contributions to the debate this afternoon, which, on the whole, have been incredibly positive and supportive and add to the debate on how we can take our education reform journey forward? If I can begin by addressing some of the issues around the amendments that have been tabled today, the Welsh Government intends to...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I’d like to open this debate today by thanking Meilyr Rowlands for his second annual report as the chief inspector of education and training in Wales. As well as providing evidence on performance and standards, the chief inspector’s report will inform policy development and help us drive improvements in our education system. The report is clear that we are...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank Michelle for her questions? As I said in my opening statement, I received this report on Friday, it’s been made available to opposition spokespersons yesterday, and to Assembly Members this morning. I will need time to reflect on the recommendations before announcing detailed responses. But, as I’ve said in answers to previous questions, I agree with much of the analysis on...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank Simon Thomas for his comments and questions, and for stepping into the breach for his colleague, who I’m sure would have wanted to be here in any other—you know, unavoidably not here today? Could I start with the issue of leadership? On coming into office, it was clear to me that one of the stand-out recommendations of the 2014 report that had not been actioned was the issue...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank Darren for his comments and questions? I’m glad that he used the early opportunity that he had to read the report yesterday to good effect. If I could go through them, when I got up in response to the PISA results in December, I never pretended for one moment that everything in the garden was rosy. I reflected—[Interruption.] And I reflected on the quotes that were given that...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. On becoming education Secretary, I was clear that we needed to raise standards, reduce the attainment gap and deliver an education system that is a source of national pride and confidence. I remain committed to these goals and we are making progress. That is reinforced by the time I have taken in recent months to better appreciate what is happening across...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I regret that Plaid Cymru do not feel in a position to support this LCM today, because, actually, what we’re trying to do is secure important safeguards for Welsh higher education institutions in being able to accrue these powers for Welsh Ministers with regard to the future of TEF as well as our ability to be able to continue to provide student...
