3. Statement by the Minister for Education: Managing Workload and Reducing Bureaucracy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:17 pm on 11 June 2019.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 4:17, 11 June 2019

Can I thank the Member for that contribution? What she refers to is indeed standard good practice. Many of our schools employ such mechanisms as teaching triads across disciplines, and there is much professional learning and support going on between professionals within schools and, indeed, also between schools. So, for instance, in some of our rural schools, you may find yourself in a department where you may be the single person or maybe one of two people, then, obviously, that can be burdensome. So, actually, schools working together, especially when it comes to developing new materials or in response to the new curriculum, but historians and humanities specialists in different schools working together to be able to plan is a very, very effective way of delivering that.

With regard to the workload and well-being charter and toolkit for schools, to take this forward, the group will be identifying roles and responsibilities and actions from now through to the autumn term, and then the steering group will meet throughout that period to ensure that this particular aspect of the charter and toolkit is delivered. The reason why this is seen to be important is that this can be a very practical tool that can be given to school leaders and practitioners in our schools the length and breadth of Wales to really challenge their thinking about how they're managing these processes within their own individual locations, so that we can get that national approach, rather than leaving individual leaders on their own, maybe looking for solutions, but actually challenge thinking, challenge existing practices in schools and ensure themselves that they are taking the action that is needed. That, then, will be reinforced by a refresh of the workload resources and training path that already exists, because there are materials out there, and we need to make sure that they are as relevant and up to date as they should be, make sure that they're got back out to schools and, crucially, look to work with our regional consortia to look at take-up of those resources. It's one thing producing them, but as Suzy Davies said, with some of the resources that have gone there before, does that actually impact upon practice in schools? We'll be looking at working with regional consortia to measure that impact as we go forward.