I want to write to Luke Fletcher
Luke Fletcher: ...right, and we need to encourage their use above all else. That means publicly owned, that means community involvement in mapping routes—power anywhere where there's people. I'm also glad to hear school transport being raised, an issue that we desperately need to resolve. The rain we've had over the past few days, and kids have been walking in that rain, over an hour, getting to school...
Luke Fletcher: Most of us here will know someone who is entirely dependent on buses to get around—be they members of our families or constituents, people need buses to get to work, to go to the shops, to attend school and medical appointments, or to access leisure opportunities. It is certainly true of my region—communities that are underserved by the rail network, for example—that people are...
Luke Fletcher: A few weeks ago, a £2.12 million cut to Bridgend council's school budget was announced, meaning an increased risk of redundancies. Worryingly, of course, Bridgend is a microcosm of what seems to be happening throughout Wales at the moment. In November, Heledd Fychan highlighted the National Association of Head Teachers survey, which said just 5 per cent of schools say they will be able to...
Luke Fletcher: 10. What is the Welsh Government doing to facilitate discussions between local authorities and schools during this period of severe financial hardship? OQ59253
Luke Fletcher: ...will be all-important, especially when we turn to the FE sector to deliver those skills. The strategy, as outlined by the Government, will focus, at least in part, on providing training and education to individuals and businesses to support the transition to a low-carbon economy, and there are a number of announcements to welcome in relation to personal learning accounts and the role of...
Luke Fletcher: ...seen success and they aren't a new idea. Finland, in 1967, established Sitra, which is a body committed to innovating, regardless of which party is in power. And within 10 years, Sitra achieved education reform, which just so happens to be the same structure that we, as well as much of the world, have followed. So, there is tremendous potential for a Wales innovation strategy like...
Luke Fletcher: ...how a younger version of me was grateful as well for Welsh Government protecting that. Vikki, I think, raised a very important point. Here's the conflict facing low-income students: 'Do I stay in education, or do I go out and earn?' That was a question I asked myself, and had I chosen the latter, I might not be stood here today now, and that probably would have made the lives of a lot of...
Luke Fletcher: I will start as I often do when it comes to debating the education maintenance allowance, and praise the Government, and praise the Minister, for continuing to protect it. The fact we have EMA here in Wales, whilst in England they don't, is something we should all be proud of in this place, and it's something we should all be ready to protect. As we all know, the cost of living has had a...
Luke Fletcher: Last week, I asked the education Minister about the skills agenda, and how he intends to address the skills gap from his end. The key point that I raised in my question is that we are struggling to retain young learners, particularly from low-income households. In Wales, we also have a lack of learner destination data in FE and apprenticeships—data that, alongside bolstered financial...
Luke Fletcher: ...additional new entrants into construction, with bricklaying, electrical roles and roofing being areas of particular high demand. With the draft budget, there is a chance here to build on how the education system supports people into these industries, but, as I referenced yesterday, conversations I've had with the sector highlight the challenges learners face during their education that may...
Luke Fletcher: 5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Economy regarding how the education system can help to address Wales's skills gap? OQ59084
Luke Fletcher: ...their course, we wouldn’t have a skills shortage in construction. So, very clearly, there’s a drop-off of students. Data, however, isn’t collected by the Government on how many students leave education mid course. That, of course, needs to change, but what will help is the support provided to students. The increase to student maintenance support was very welcome. However, it...
Luke Fletcher: If I could touch on Welsh-medium education—and I'm sure that the Minister isn't going to be surprised by that—investment in it to achieve Welsh Government targets is going to be vital. Bridgend is a prime example. Yes, we heard last week that, on the face of it, Welsh language provision is increasing, with a new school in Porthcawl and the expansion of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr, but if you...
Luke Fletcher: Of course I welcome the developments in terms of Porthcawl and Ysgol Bro Ogwr—my former primary school. It was a great pleasure for me to return to Bro Ogwr to see how they were providing free school meals. The classrooms felt a lot smaller than when I was a pupil there, but I don’t know what that means—maybe I’ve put a little bit of weight on since then. Mention has been made that...
Luke Fletcher: .... In the downpour, I walked to the train station. Luckily, it's only five minutes away from my house. But, in other parts of Bridgend county, too many kids had to walk over an hour to get to school, no doubt arriving soaking wet. I first raised this in September 2021. Nothing has changed. This barrier to education in still in place. So, I would like to ask for an urgent statement from the...
Luke Fletcher: ...very existence, let alone the rise in the use, of food banks, as well as the increase in holiday hunger initiatives, is a testament to a failed system. That said, of course, we are rolling out free school meals to all primary school pupils, which is a step in the right direction. I visited Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr back in late November, my old primary, to see this policy in action, and I...
Luke Fletcher: ...living. They're worried that young people may be inclined to look for work in lower skilled areas instead, where the pay offer would be substantially more and therefore won't receive the support or education that their peers may be able to access. In a similar vein, we see the same issue with a reluctance from Welsh Government to increase the education maintenance allowance for those who...
Luke Fletcher: ...work already going on by various organisations like Dŵr Cymru, like the fire service, in working to improve water safety. But what I think was lacking was the joined-up thinking and coherence in educational programmes. However, the desire to get that coherence was clear to us all. It was also clear that funding was an issue, specifically when comparing to the funding given in England...
Luke Fletcher: Could we have an oral or written statement on school transport, please?
Luke Fletcher: At 07:30 on Thursday morning, parents and local representatives walked from Maesteg park down to Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, to highlight how long and unsafe the route to school is to walk. It took them roughly 45 minutes to an hour to make the journey, and that happened to be an okay day weather-wise, but the reality is that kids are walking in all weathers. I understand that budgets are...
