Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 2:19 pm on 2 November 2016.
I must say I’m very disappointed that Schools Challenge Cymru has come to an end and I would have much preferred to see it recalibrated rather than abandoned. There is an evidence base that we can draw upon from Manchester and London of where it has succeeded and I do think it’s important the Cabinet Secretary does prioritise investment in schools, where there is evidence to justify that.
In terms of learning the lessons, from my understanding of Schools Challenge Cymru, a key part was the word ‘challenge’ and the use of a peer group to put a school under support and scrutiny. So, how can that be captured in an all-Wales programme, and how can the Secretary ensure that that isn’t watered down?