9. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the teaching of history in Welsh schools? OAQ(5)0116(EDU) 

Diolch, Dai. History is a compulsory national curriculum subject for all learners at key stages 2 and 3. History will be included in the humanities area of learning and experience of the new curriculum, and this will give us a new opportunity to ensure that the history platform will have an enhanced Welsh dimension and an international perspective.

Thank you for that response. It’s true to say that many people are concerned about the teaching of Welsh history in our schools. Following on from critical reports in the area, we need to mention Aneirin and Taliesin, Gwenllian in 1136, ‘Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf’, Owain Glyndŵr, Bishop William Morgan, Williams Pantycelyn, the Merthyr rising, the Rebecca riots, the treachery of the blue books, the Welsh Not, and so on. What hope is there of amending the history curriculum to teach our children Welsh history?

Well, Dai, as I said, the curriculum reform, which I was urged earlier by your colleague to stop and slow down and pause on, gives us this new opportunity to enhance the ability to teach Welsh children about their history. As I said, the Welsh dimension in both the current and the new curriculum is an important and prominent part of the education system, and Dr Elin Jones’s report, ‘The Cwricwlwm Cymreig, history and the story of Wales’, was taken forward and was considered as part of Professor Donaldson’s review in ‘Successful Futures’ and will form an important part of the consideration as the areas of learning and experience are developed.

But let me be absolutely clear: there are many, many opportunities within the current curriculum for children to learn about their communities, the effect on international events and how their communities were affected and changed. I know that often there is concern about the content of Welsh history in the GCSE examination, and, often, people express concerns that the papers are about American history, about European history, about the first and second world wars. You will be aware that the new history GCSE will be ready for teaching in September of this year, and, again, there are enhanced opportunities for students to spend more of their time considering their own history and the impact of important international events on that.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.