Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ92858

Last week I set out my immediate priorities which include raising attainment and closing the gap for the poorest children in Wales. I am committed to creating an inclusive education system which enables all learners to thrive and achieve their potential.

Over the past ten years we have seen changes in qualifications and the way in which we report on them, as well as changes to the criteria for Free School Meal eligibility, which we use as a proxy deprivation indicator. This has meant that it is not simple to make year-on-year comparisons, and data needs to be understood within the context of the changes that have taken place over this period. Nonetheless, the attainment gap persists across a range of measures, and I have made it a priority to address it.

We are taking forward research to review the way in which we consider socio-economic factors amongst learners, their impact on outcomes, and the use of such data to inform the targeting of funding and support.

Our recently established partnership agreement with the Education Endowment Foundation provides schools with access to powerful international evidence on the most effective learning and teaching strategies. This complements our work to target the use of the Pupil Development Grant to ensure the funding has the biggest impact. Our Attainment Champions pilot will focus on the most disadvantaged children and young people. Phase two of the pilot will begin in September and run for a full academic year, looking at school-based approaches to tackling the impact of poverty on educational attainment, with experienced school leaders and partner schools working together and sharing best practice on the interventions that have the greatest impact.