Primary Education in Ogmore

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Education – in the Senedd at 2:15 pm on 5 June 2019.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 2:15, 5 June 2019

Well, I'm delighted that the Member is pleased with the results of the investment in Betws, Calon y Cymoedd, Pencoed Primary School, which is another one I'm sure the Member is very pleased to see. Hopefully the children will take pride in and thrive in those buildings. I believe it is so important that we demonstrate to our children and our educators that we believe in them and that we want to invest in them by providing them with the very best facilities for them to learn and work in.

The Member makes a good point with regard to leadership. No education system can exceed the quality of those who lead it, whether that be in individual schools, whether that be in our local authorities or, indeed, in Welsh Government. And, because of that, we have invested in the creation of the National Academy for Educational Leadership, a first for Wales, which is working with its second cohort of headteachers, which is evaluating and accrediting new leadership programmes so that there is a national standard across all of Wales for professional development opportunities for leaders. It's starting at the moment with new and aspiring heads, but we will be developing a programme for existing headteachers as well as looking at the potential to provide leadership and professional learning for governors, for local authorities and others who are involved in providing that strategic vision for education of whatever level they currently are working at.