<p>The Schools Challenge Cymru Programme</p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 2:14 pm on 2 November 2016.

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Photo of Vikki Howells Vikki Howells Labour 2:14, 2 November 2016

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I recently visited Pontypridd High School in my constituency and had a useful discussion with the headteacher on how Schools Challenge Cymru was helping them to drive up standards. For example, 2016 marked their best ever performance in terms of GCSE results. Having taught myself in a Schools Challenge Cymru school, which last year was the second best improved school within the Schools Challenge Cymru cohort, I know also of the positive benefits that the programme has brought in terms of staff morale and student morale too. Schools Challenge Cymru is benefitting participant schools, there’s no doubt about that, and I’m keen that any progress is not lost. What lessons can the Welsh Government take from the programme so we can further build on progress made and share best practice more widely within the education system in Wales?