5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve standards of education in Wales? OAQ53104

Well, our national mission is to raise standards of education for our young people. We're developing new evaluation and improvement arrangements, which will further support school improvement. The next stage, of course, is to consider how to support our schools causing most concern at an early stage, and the Cabinet Secretary for Education will update members in the new year on that point.

Thank you very much for that answer, First Minister. According to Estyn, only half of secondary schools in Wales are judged 'good' or 'excellent'. Pupils do not develop knowledge and skills well enough or make enough progress in around a half of Welsh secondary schools, and the majority of pupils in these schools do not achieve in line with their abilities by the time they reach the end of compulsory schooling. This impacts on their employment prospects and adds to the pressure on further education colleges, which have to put right the failure of the education system to prepare these students for work. What action does the First Minister advise his successor to take to address these failings before another generation of children in Wales is condemned to be underachievers?

Well, I don't agree that children are underachieving. I think there are excellent results in Wales in A-levels and in GCSEs, and we see very good standards of teaching in Wales. I think what is right to say is that consistency has always been an issue. Now, of course, the key to dealing with that is local government, because local government delivers education. Now, it's perfectly right and proper, of course, that I'm asked questions, and the Cabinet Secretary is asked questions, about education in this Chamber, but local government has a major role to play, and that means local government has to work together, regionally, to deliver education. We've seen improvements. It'd be wholly wrong for any local authority to try to deliver education itself or to pull out of regional structures. That is a backward step and children's education will be worsened as a result. So, yes, we want to work with the local authorities, but it's hugely important as well that local authorities work together to deliver education across a far wider area. 

As we’ve just heard, pupils attending half of Welsh secondary schools are failing to reach their full potential by the time that they leave school. It’s Estyn that states that, despite what you’ve just said. Five years ago, you admitted that the Welsh Government had taken its eye off the ball in terms of education in the past and you agreed at that point—and I quote—that you had taken your eye off the ball. Five years since you made that statement, are you disappointed with the most recent findings by Estyn and the lack of pace in progress in our secondary schools particularly?

Well, I did say that, but I said that about nine years ago. Of course, since then things have changed, and changed for the better. We now see the results improving. For example, we know that the young people of Wales are doing extremely well at A-level and we’ve seen progress in the grades that people gain at GCSE and, of course, we know that the people of Wales are pleased with the education system that we have. That doesn’t mean to say that we’re complacent and we’re saying, ‘That’s okay, then.' There is work to be done, of course, and we understand that and that work is being done by the Cabinet Secretary. But, as regards the way forward and ensuring that funding is available to schools and that funding is available to local authorities to pay teachers, they’ve been given that funding and it's crucial that they should spend that money on paying teachers' salaries. I think a great deal has changed over the past years and we now see things going in the right direction.

First Minister, the early years are vital to education and life chances throughout life, so may I commend you and Welsh Government on building the Flying Start programme, which I believe is valuable and effective? But, as ever, there is more to be done, and I think the postcode eligibility criteria for Flying Start calls into question whether more can be done to roll out this programme to many more families in Wales. Is that something that you believe should happen?

Well, that's a matter—it's a matter for the next Government. It's the first time I've used that phrase, I have to say, in First Minister's questions. But, of course, it's—. The difficulty is that we know that many programmes are being delivered in areas, but we also know, of course, that there will be families in other areas that don't benefit from the same schemes. The difficult bit has been identifying those families who might live outside of those areas in order that they can benefit. I'm sure that this is something that will be looked at in the months to come.