2. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on Welsh Government proposals for the closure of rural schools? OAQ51262

Thank you very much, Mark. A 14-week consultation on proposals to strengthen the school organisation code in respect of a presumption against closure of rural schools ended on 30 September. We are currently in the process of analysing consultation responses. We aim to publish a summary of the responses before the end of this year.

Thank you for that. As you're aware, concerns are regularly raised that Welsh Government criteria for twenty-first century schools funding is driving council decisions on which schools to close. When I attended the call-in on the rural school closures in Flintshire last year, evidence-based presentations were made in accordance with the Welsh Government's own school organisation code.Despite that, the schools were closed after an entirely party political speech, which ignored the code completely, by the council leader. I recently wrote to you regarding proposals by Anglesey council to close Ysgol Talwrn under their review of primary education provision in the Llangefni area. You concluded that letter by explaining that the strengthening, as you put it, of the statutory school organisation code, following consultation, will follow, but any changes to the current version of the code would not be retrospective. What action can you and the Welsh Government take if and when communities have evidence to show that the school organisation code and the data being used by the council are an apparent breach of the Welsh Government's requirements?

Thank you, Mark. I am very clear that there can be real benefits—academic, cultural and social—to pupils in communities through the delivery of high-quality education in small and rural schools. I know, and parents across rural Wales know, that small, rural schools can play an important role in raising standards and extending opportunity for all.

I'm convinced that there is an opportunity to strengthen the code. It's a promise that I made in opposition and it is a promise that I am fulfilling and following through on with the consultation, but it is correct to say that it will not be retrospective. If the Member has concerns about the way in which local authorities are conducting their school organisation and school places policy, then I would be very, very content to look at that. These processes are complex and can be time-consuming, and sometimes they are time-consuming because officials spend a great deal of time ensuring that local authorities have complied with the existing code and, I hope, will comply with a strengthened code following the consultation.