16. Debate: Stage 4 of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:44 pm on 9 March 2021.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 6:44, 9 March 2021

Thank you very much. Can I thank those who have contributed this afternoon? I'm disappointed to hear that Suzy Davies is not able to join the session this afternoon, because I know that she has worked incredibly hard on this Bill, and I know that she's been fully committed to the scrutiny process. And, as I said in opening my comments today, I think we have a better Bill as a result of the efforts of the CYPE committee, and I have gone to great lengths to try and respond positively to the cross-party report that the committee published to try and meet those aspirations.

Can I thank Gareth Bennett for his kind words on my retirement? Can I gently remind him that the Welsh baccalaureate is accepted by the vast majority of institutions across England and Wales. Indeed, Presiding Officer, my own daughter was saved by her Welsh baccalaureate grade, which allowed her to go on to university this year, and there are many students like that. It's disappointing that the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party won't be supporting the Bill today, but perhaps not so disappointing as the fact that Plaid Cymru—The Party of Wales will not take this historic opportunity, for the first time in our nation's history, to have our own curriculum, designed by the teachers of Wales for the children of Wales.

Can I just say once again, for the absolute avoidance of any doubt, Welsh histories and the story of Wales will be a compulsory part of this curriculum? It is included in the statutory guidance that has already been issued and will have a statutory underpinning as a result of this vote—hopefully, successful vote—this evening. There will be no way a school cannot teach the history of Wales, and, indeed, every single area of learning and experience is required to have a golden thread of a celebration of Welsh identity in all its diversity in every area, and that is underpinned in the legislation before us. The same is also true for issues around teaching on the environment and the climate crisis. Now, I accept it's election time, and there are petitions and e-mails to be sent, but it's regrettable, as I said, on this historic day, with the opportunity for the first time in our nation's history to have our own curriculum, that The Party of Wales will choose to vote against.

Can I conclude by thanking Lynne Neagle for her tough, astute, tenacious, sometimes bloody mindedness in her approach to this legislation? I mean that as a compliment, Lynne. As I said earlier, the results of the committee's work have made this a better Bill, and I have loved every minute—well, almost every minute—of being a Minister, but it is my experience on the backbenches, of having sat through endless Government debates and Government pieces of legislation that has guided my interaction with your committee over this time. I'm grateful for your leadership, and I applaud you for the work that you have done that has got us to this point. Presiding Officer, I commend this piece of legislation to our Senedd.