Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Twelve months ago, I set out a series of actions to set us on the path to address the impact of poverty on educational attainment. Attainment gaps between children and young people impacted by poverty and their peers in primary schools and at key stage 3 have reduced over time. The progress at GCSE level has been less consistent and the impact of the pandemic is likely to have worsened the gaps. But there are no silver bullets. We cannot address this issue with one initiative or a reform in one part of the system; it requires a whole-system approach.

Last week, I updated the Senedd on our new road map for education, 'High Standards and Aspirations for All', which sets out the collective action we are taking in education. Every action must be examined thoroughly through the lens of tackling the impact of poverty on educational outcomes. Today, I will update Members on the actions that I set out 12 months ago, which are now captured in our road map.

The most important factor in terms of tackling the impact of poverty on attainment in schools is ensuring high-quality teaching and learning. We have taken action across the system to ensure a focus on this issue, drawing on international evidence of what works. Understanding the impact of poverty already forms part of initial teacher training and we will strengthen this focus. From September, the national Masters in education qualification for serving teachers includes a module focused on reducing the impact of poverty, and new resources were recently provided to teachers and teaching assistants.

The National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales and Estyn have both been tasked to support this mission. Estyn has increased its focus on what providers are doing to reduce the impact of poverty and has published new supplementary inspection guidance. The national academy has a role in ensuring that leadership across Wales recognises and addresses the impacts of poverty.

In January, with the help of the national academy, I appointed seven exceptional headteachers to be attainment champions. They are working with partner schools across Wales to share their experience of successfully tackling the impact of poverty within schools. I have met with them twice, most recently on 9 March, to draw on their insights, which will inform our own policy development.