5. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide details of the next phase of the 21st century schools programme? OAQ(5)0110(EDU)

Band B of the twenty-first century schools and education programme is planned for the period 2019-24, and is currently under development. The Welsh Government will continue to work with our partners, including local authorities, diocesan authorities and the further education sector to understand demand for investment and key projects.

Thank you for that answer, Minister. The twenty-first century schools programme to date has actually been an excellent example of how we can improve the education facilities for our young children. In my own constituency, we’ve just seen the Cabinet Secretary open officially Ysgol Bae Baglan; Awel y Môr has been created; and there are three new sites in Margam; the new Welsh-medium secondary in Sandfields; and the new primary school in Britton Ferry. But this is important, as we still have schools in the category C and D situation, where we need to replace those schools. You’ve given me a timeline of 2019-24, but what criteria can we get under way to ensure that those schools that are now in need of the next stage can actually get their bids in as quickly as possible to ensure that the funding for the children who go to those schools, and the education facilities for the children who go to those schools, can be in place as quickly as possible?

The Member’s absolutely right to emphasise the investment that’s taken place in schools across Wales. Band A has seen a rebuild and refurbishment of over 150 schools and colleges across Wales. That’s a real investment in the education of children and young people for the future. The second wave will begin—band B will begin in 2019 and run over a five-year period to 2024. Investment priorities for the next funding period are currently being developed in partnership with local authorities, further education institutions and others. The aim of the band B programme is to reduce the number of poor condition schools and colleges, to provide enough places to deliver Welsh and English-medium education, and ensure effective and efficient use of the educational estate. And I would advise all of those who have an interest in that to have conversations immediately with local authorities and take these matters forward.

Minister, I wonder if you’d look at the official website, which is sponsored by the Welsh Government and the WLGA, click on ‘latest news’, and the latest news on it is a construction conference on how to build a good school, dated 12 May 2015. Now, I know we’re in between schemes or phases, but this does give the impression the whole programme is dormant, and you need a more alert—I would suggest—website.

I would find it very difficult to disagree with that.

Despite the twenty-first century schools programme, difficulties do still arise with older schools in need of repair. We had a rather ludicrous situation this winter, when 1,400 pupils from three Cardiff secondary schools were being ferried out to places like the Motorpoint Arena, the SWALEC stadium, county hall and Barry College for lessons. This did cause considerable disruption. Does the Minister think this situation was acceptable, and can his department do anything to avoid similar disruption in future?

Clearly, that’s a matter for the education authority in the city. What I will say is that all education authorities are expected to provide a coherence of education throughout the day and throughout these periods for the children and young people they’re delivering education to.