Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 1:47 pm on 31 January 2018.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 1:47, 31 January 2018

Darren, for pupils and teachers currently in the system, we have to deal with the reality of today, as do I. I have made it very clear in this Chamber, time and time again, that I want to see education raise standards for all of our children, including bridging the attainment gap between those pupils who are less well-off and ensuring that our education system is a source of national pride and confidence, and by improving GCSE results, that's one of the ways in which we can do that. I've been clear, since coming into office, that we can do better, so with regard to mathematics, for instance, we have set up the new national network of excellence for mathematics, so that we can improve the teaching of mathematics across the country, and also to ensure that, for instance, with regard to early entry, which we know in some cases can be detrimental, it should only be used in schools for those pupils who are in a position to fulfil their maximum potential rather than being sent in early for an exam and not achieve the results that they are capable of achieving after a full teaching of the course.