7. 6. The Education Workforce Council (Accreditation of Initial Teacher Training) (Additional Functions) (Wales) Order 2017

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:07 pm on 14 February 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 5:07, 14 February 2017

Plaid Cymru won’t be opposing these regulations—[Interruption.] We won’t be opposing these regulations, just for clarity, today, but I think it is important maybe that we do reflect on some of the concerns that have been raised, primarily by teaching unions but also by others in this sector, about the configuration of the Education Workforce Council. Now, clearly, it is currently made up of people appointed by Ministers, whereas we know of other models where the sector elects its membership. There is reference in one piece of correspondence that I’ve received to the Scottish GTC, where I think around 19 members of the board there are elected. Now, as the responsibilities and the remit of the Education Workforce Council are extended, as they are now, of course, through these regulations, ensuring that it does reflect the sector it presides over becomes even more important in relation to its ability to do its job, but also in relation to having the confidence of the sector as well. So, I just wanted to ask the Cabinet Secretary whether she was open-minded to that kind of development, and, if she was, at what stage she thought we should be looking again at that, so that we can make sure that some of the views presented to us as Members in relation to these regulations are actually ones that we consider and take on board.