Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I am very pleased to introduce the curriculum and assessment Bill for the Senedd’s consideration. I do so on behalf of this Government and for the teachers, academics, practitioners, businesses, unions and many others who are building this future for our learners, our schools and our nation. 

Now, we could not have anticipated that we would be turning this page of history in Welsh education under these circumstances. The national effort against the coronavirus has involved a team of 3.2 million and the education family has met the challenge together, stepping up to ensure that our children and young people are supported with their well-being, their ability to learn and to grow.

Now, our education reforms, with the new curriculum at the centre, is also a shared national endeavour: collective expertise, experience and energy, so that we raise standards for all, reduce the attainment gap and ensure that we have a system of education in Wales that is a source of pride and enjoys public confidence.

This Bill provides a new legislative framework to support the new curriculum and assessment arrangements, and helps us to meet those ambitions for every single learner, for every single teacher and every single education setting.