Can I say I absolutely agree with the points made by the Member in his question? It’s important that all learners have access to a curriculum that best suits their individual learning pathways and meets their wide range of interests and abilities, and that there is parity of esteem between those choices. Members will be pleased to hear that, in this academic year, all schools and FE colleges in Wales have either met or exceeded the local curriculum offer requirements of the 14-19 learning pathways. But can I say this in answer to his question? I think he’s absolutely right to identify the issue of how we take forward that sort of training opportunity, skills acquisition, and the curriculum for 14 to 16-year-olds.

Members may be aware that the Welsh Government is undertaking a pilot to support junior apprenticeships, which is being taken forward in collaboration with Cardiff and Vale College. That started this year, and we’re looking, at the moment, at this pilot. I have to say, I’m minded, and I have asked officials to explore whether or how we can expand and build upon this pilot and move forward with more urgency, so that, if the pilot proves to be an effective way of ensuring not just a parity of esteem, but better qualifications for people at 16, we can expand it more mainstream as soon as possible.