7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on school funding in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council? OAQ52032

Thank you, Dawn. The gross schools expenditure in Merthyr last year was budgeted to be over £50 million. That's 3 per cent higher than in 2016-2017. Merthyr Tydfil delegated 87 per cent of the funding to schools, giving a delegated budget of over £43 million. That's a 4 per cent increase on the previous year, and I'm pleased to say that's the highest percentage increase that we saw in any local authority in Wales. 

Indeed, and I know that the Welsh Government has a long-standing commitment to school funding, in spite of the UK Government's continued austerity programme, and this year's local government settlement, as you've already outlined, has reflected this. However, we also know that local authorities have successfully argued for education funding not to be ring-fenced, and I appreciate that much of that funding now is used for their school budgets. It is a matter entirely for them. Nevertheless, I was concerned to see that Merthyr Tydfil council, despite what you have said, has effectively cut their school budget, with schools being advised that they must make savings of some £400,000 in this financial year, with more to follow. Now, given that Merthyr Tydfil's education service was only brought out of special measures in 2016, can you assure me that you're closely monitoring the needs of schools in Merthyr Tydfil so that we do not allow that situation to slip backwards again?

Thank you, Dawn. You are correct in saying that local authorities are responsible for school funding, and, indeed, that is set out in current Welsh law. You will also be aware that Estyn, the independent inspectorate, not only has a role in inspecting individual schools, but also has a role in inspecting the performance of individual local education authorities. They have trialled a new inspection framework, the first of which took place in Neath Port Talbot, and that is a very good way in which we can ensure the performance of local education authorities.

I am aware that for some authorities that have recently been in special measures, there is a need to keep a very close eye, and, of course, you'll be aware that one of the reasons why we work in partnership with the middle tier of the regional consortia is to ensure that there is high-quality support for school improvement in that area, rather than dissipated across all the local authorities.

But can I just take this opportunity? I understand that budgets are under pressure across Wales, not just in Merthyr Tydfil, but despite that, individual schools are not letting that hold-back on their ambition for their children. I recently had the opportunity to visit Afon Taf High School, and I was so impressed by the accelerated reading programme that they have introduced in that school, which is seeing the pupils' level of literacy jump immeasurably. And only last week, at the festival—the literacy festival that was held in Merthyr—I had an opportunity to speak to a number of the pupils who were attending the festival. It gave me huge hope to see young boys, who we know are particularly challenging when it comes to reading, speak so eloquently about their love of reading, the literature and the books that they're choosing at the moment, and their passion. And also, not only their passion for the individual book, but their understanding that by practising their reading, using this opportunity, that they were giving them the very best chance for themselves, not just in English but, actually, to access the entire curriculum. I commend schools like that that are not using tight financial times as an excuse not to introduce new and innovative approaches within their schools. They're to be commended.

Cabinet Secretary, you said earlier that all children attending secondary school were entitled to free transport, but that surely doesn't apply to children attending sixth form. And in the case of Merthyr, is it really appropriate, if sixth-form provision is only going to take place for that age group at Merthyr college, for the council to be consulting on making all children of that age group pay for their transport to that one site?

Sorry. I apologise to Mr Reckless if I did not make myself clear in my answer to Michelle Brown. The learner travel Measure provides free school transport for compulsory-school-age children to the age of 16. For post-16 learners, individual local authorities are able to make provision if they see fit, and there is a mixed approach taken by local authorities across Wales.