Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to thank Meilyr Rowlands, the chief inspector of education and training in Wales for his 2019-20 annual report, and for the work Estyn has been taking forward at this particularly challenging time. As you all know, in March, Estyn had to halt their normal inspection activity, as they rightly turned their attention to the COVID pandemic. The report provides an important initial account of the education and training sector's response up until August 2020. In doing so, it helps us to understand the initial impacts of coronavirus on education.

I'm pleased that the report recognises the tremendous efforts of all school staff, pupils and families in ensuring that learning has continued this year. This is testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of everyone involved, and reflects the shared commitment to supporting learners across Wales.

It was heartening to read that, during the lockdown period, schools and other education and training providers prioritised the safety and well-being of learners, and particularly our most vulnerable learners. We took a cross-Government approach to ensuring children were safeguarded and that vulnerable children and young people had the support that they needed.

I have been immensely impressed with the response in Wales in helping to deliver IT equipment for pupils and schools. However, it is right for the report to highlight that a minority of our learners were disadvantaged during this period by the lack of access to suitable equipment. The Education Policy Institute in its comparison of UK nations was absolutely clear that Wales had led the way in providing IT equipment for learners. So far, we have provided 120,000 devices for schools with a further 35,000 devices being delivered in the coming weeks. However, we recognise that we must still go further and I will continue to work with the finance Minister to ensure that we provide funding when that funding is needed to ensure that every learner has the device that they need.

The annual report also highlights that there was variation in the knowledge and experience of individual schools and staff with digital technology before lockdown. However, it is positive how this prolonged period of using digital technology has meant that many learners and teachers have greatly improved their digital skills. I was particularly pleased that the report highlighted some of the advantages that we do have in Wales in dealing with the crisis thanks to our well-established national digital platform Hwb.

The report notes the complex challenges of the pandemic that have required leaders and staff across education and training to make decisions in difficult circumstances and to work in new ways. But they have risen to the challenge, and there has been an increased appreciation of their work and of the importance of pupils attending school. As the report highlights, it's not surprising that the additional challenges have placed pressure on head teachers and senior leaders to prioritise and make rapid decisions with limited time to consider options in depth, sometimes affecting their well-being. That is why we have grant funded Education Support, the UK school staff well-being charity, to undertake a bespoke package of support for the school workforce in Wales at this time.

I recognise, as does the report, that this has been an anxious time for older students, as they have faced uncertainty about examinations and completing their studies without the usual end-of-course assessments. We made an early decision to cancel the 2021 summer exams and put in place alternative assessment arrangements for this reason, to ensure fairness for learners and to maximise the teaching and learning time available to support progression. As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold, our approach to qualifications and assessment will remain responsive and will prioritise supporting learner well-being and progression.

I want now to briefly turn to some of the findings from inspections mentioned in the report. This in effect reflects the baseline performance of our education system going into the pandemic. The evidence shows a similar pattern of improvement to recent years and I'm pleased that standards, provision and leadership are good across many post-16 providers too. And whilst it is pleasing that standards in primary schools remain high, we know that we have to continue to support our secondary schools in the drive for their improvement, and this will remain a priority as we move to the recover phase from the pandemic. 

Looking forward, it is no surprise that there are considerable challenges that remain for our education system. For example, initial evidence from the autumn term suggests that many pupils may have regressed in their literacy and numeracy skills. Alongside digital competence, literacy and numeracy are the skills that form the foundation of all learning and enable learners to access the breadth of the whole curriculum. I therefore agree wholeheartedly with the chief inspector’s comments that helping learners, particularly the vulnerable and disadvantaged, to catch up is a major task for the education system now and for the future.

During the crisis it has become clear that many learners have not progressed as much as they might have expected to. In response, the Welsh Government has provided a range of additional funding to boost support for learners at crucial stages in their education, including £29 million for schools to recruit, recover and raise standards. We set a goal of 900 extra full-time equivalent staff and we have surpassed that, and each is playing a crucial role in school operations this term.

I am encouraged by the chief inspector’s comments that a greater focus on learners' wellbeing, resilience and independence, more experience of digital learning, and closer communications with families can put schools in a better place to prepare for the Curriculum for Wales, and also that many schools have begun to try to adapt their approaches to teaching and learning to reflect the new curriculum.

Members, this is the last annual report by Meilyr Rowlands as chief inspector. Meilyr joined Estyn at the start of Wales having our own democracy, and he has been a key figure in shaping our education system over the last 20 years. Personally, I have appreciated his thoughtful counsel and his commitment to the place and role of schools within communities, and to raising standards for all, which are again evident in this report. I'm sure that other Members will have their own tributes. Diolch, Meilyr. Diolch o galon.

In conclusion, for all the challenges and issues that the Welsh education system has inevitably faced throughout this pandemic, and which Estyn's report rightly describes, we can also take pride in some of the positive ways our education system has responded. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.