Mark Drakeford: Devolution has been the most important influencing factor on education policy in Wales. Our national mission is helping us to raise standards, raise the attainment of all children and ensure we have an education system that is a source of national pride and public confidence.
Mark Drakeford: The Minister for Education and her officials have repeatedly pressed that any alternative must fully replace the benefits of Erasmus+. It is disappointing that the UK Government have excluded valuable elements of Erasmus+ from their Turing scheme. The scheme does not include inward mobilities and excludes youth and sport entirely.
Mark Drakeford: All learners have been impacted by the pandemic, with challenges for their learning and well-being, particularly those already disadvantaged. We have provided nearly £40 million to support schools and learners. We work with our partners to develop a comprehensive, medium-term support plan, which will be published in the coming months.
Mark Drakeford: ...Start and Families First programmes. We are helping families maximise incomes, reduce living costs and build financial resilience. We are supporting children to continue learning through free school meals, additional teachers and addressing digital exclusion.
Mark Drakeford: Supported by the Welsh Government with up to £52 million in additional funding, local authorities in the South Wales West region have set in place systems to ensure that those who rely on free school meals do not have to go without whilst they are not at school.
Mark Drakeford: ...is having the greatest impact on some of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged learners. That is why we continue to provide additional investment to ensure all learners have equal access to an education whatever their background or circumstances.
Mark Drakeford: For the period 16 December-6 January, data provided by Public Health Wales shows that, in Bridgend, there were 41 confirmed cases amongst pupils in primary school and 60 confirmed cases amongst primary school staff. Seventeen childcare and play settings in Bridgend have informed Care Inspectorate Wales of confirmed cases.
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government works with our partners across South Wales Central to educate, raise awareness and prevent hate crime. We provide funding to support victims and promote community cohesion. We have significantly bolstered our work in this area in recognition of tensions arising from EU withdrawal and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government has regular discussions with organisations involved in delivering the Senedd elections in May 2021. In particular, we are working with education and local government partners to enable newly enfranchised younger voters to take their opportunity to vote for the first time in the Senedd elections.
Mark Drakeford: The Minister for Education has published operational guidance providing a framework for local authorities and schools to support all learners to return this term. The guidance sets out control measures that need to be taken to minimise the risk of transmission, including adhering to social distancing in the best ways possible.
Mark Drakeford: The decision to increase operations in schools from 29 June was guided by an approach based on equality of access, as all learners have a right to education and to be supported in their learning. This phased approach aims to mitigate the negative impacts on learners caused by COVID-19.
Mark Drakeford: ...yn y maes cynllunio: mae lot o bethau lle maen nhw'n gallu gwneud i'n helpu ni yn logistics, fel maen nhw'n ei ddweud, ond pobl eraill. Yn y maes addysg, y ffordd orau i fi o ddelio â free school meals yw i roi arian i'r teulu drwy'r child benefit.
Mark Drakeford: Due to these exceptional circumstances, on 18 March, the Minister for Education announced that the summer exam series would not go ahead. Learners due to sit their GCSEs and A-levels this summer will be awarded a fair grade to recognise their work, drawing on all available information.
Mark Drakeford: We have confirmed funding of £2 million for mental health and well-being in the further education sector in 2020-21. Most of the funding is going directly to colleges to build capacity, and to support collaborative projects to ensure a consistent, evidence-based approach to staff and student well-being across Wales.
Mark Drakeford: Responsibility for planning school places rests with local authorities. Local authorities have to keep under review whether their pattern of school provision meets demand for places and the requirements of the modern curriculum.
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that all young people receive high-quality sexuality and relationships education. In May 2018, we announced our intention to rename this area of study and have proposed that relationships and sexuality education will be statutory in the new curriculum.
Mark Drakeford: I have regular discussions with the finance Minister about measures we are taking to protect local services such as education against the impacts of the UK Government austerity policy. Total public spending on education per head in Wales increased by 1.8 per cent in 2017-18, the fastest growth of the four UK countries.
Mark Drakeford: In September 2016, the Minister for Education established the higher education Brexit working group as a forum to co-ordinate intelligence and provide advice to Government on the short to long-term impact of Brexit on universities. The Minister for Education met the group following their meeting yesterday, which focused on 'no deal'.
Mark Drakeford: ...rheoli pobl yn ysmygu, a gwneud mwy yn y maes yna. A bydd hwnna’n arwain at bethau eraill, fel yr ydym ni wedi sôn amdanynt yn barod. Jest am funud, Llywydd, i ddweud gair yn fwy am y tertiary education and training Bill—dwi ddim cweit yn siŵr beth yw e yn Gymraeg, dwi’n ymddiheuro—ond jest i esbonio’r cefndir i bobl unwaith eto.
Mark Drakeford: The feedback phase on curriculum for Wales 2022 closes this week. We are committed to ensuring all educational practitioners receive the support they need to deliver the new transformational curriculum, and a new national approach to professional learning is now in place to support this.
