, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Thank you, Minister, I appreciate those comments. For over a year now, I've highlighted my concerns to you about the educational underachievement of white working-class boys in Wales. So, Minister, can you imagine my surprise when I heard your comments…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Diolch, Llywydd. Would the Minister agree with me and the first cross-party delegation that has just returned from the Falkland islands that a greater relationship between Wales and the Falklands—the gateway to Antarctica—could provide Welsh learners with a…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms - evidence session
Is that okay? Sorry. Can you hear me? Yes. You recognise the rise in complex needs, as you've just said, presenting themselves in mainstream education, but it now appears there is an intermediate category of learners who require more than universal provision…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms - evidence session
Can you hear me now?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms - evidence session
Thank you. You've just recognised, obviously, the variety of complex needs presenting themselves in mainstream education. It appears there is now an intermediate category of learners who require more than universal provision—[Inaudible.]
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms - evidence session
Thank you, Chair. Yes, as you say, schools have had to deal with an awful lot in a short amount of time with the new curriculum and the ALN reforms coming in in a short amount of time. And not only that, the 22 different interpretations of the ALN reforms…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Okay, thank you.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Just lastly, Chair. How concerned are you, then, that—? Obviously, exclusions are reducing in primary schools, which is welcome, but exclusion for less than five days has gone up markedly in secondary schools, by a third between 2018-19 and 2021-22, from 75…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Thank you. Thank you for those responses; they're really detailed. So, do you think that the post-pandemic mental health crisis within our young people, the rise in ALN, really tight school budgets, the behaviour issues you just mentioned, the violence, do…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Thank you—
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Yes, okay. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. It's encouraging to see the outcomes for primary, but, with absence doubling to 12.5 per cent in secondary, it is a concern. In your annual report, it says that Estyn's inspection reports and pupil questionnaires report…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Yes, it's quite interesting—[Interruption.] Sorry.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Thank you. Yes, I was going to ask you that, so it's really good that you're saying what I was just about to ask, because I think that sharing best practice is so important, isn't it? There are 22 local authorities with 22 different approaches, and within…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Thank you, Chair. Just a quick comment: I'd just like to say that there do seem to be some welcome changes, particularly the emphasis on being a more positive part of the school's journey of improvement. I like that, but I do have some concerns about what you…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Estyn Annual Report 2022-2023
Thank you, Chair. I was just about to comment on that as well. As a parent myself, it would be really useful, I know, just to simplify what you're saying to parents and really do it in a form that everybody can understand, because it's quite difficult to…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Business Minister, I'd like to request a statement from the education Minister. Since 2011, the number of teachers of the deaf has fallen by 20 per cent—one in five teachers. It is expected that, in the next 10 years, one in three teachers will retire. If no…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I too share the concerns of the fellow Member for South Wales East and, for example, on the proposal to reclaim the Bedwas coal tips, which has been met with a lot of concern by constituents in my region. Although the Welsh Government has claimed the tips are…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Six Nations rugby broadcasting
I'd like to start by thanking my colleagues for bringing this debate to the Chamber today. As we all know, rugby is synonymous with our great nation and something we all take great pride in. When the stadium sings and Wales wins, it lifts our nation. It's…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Business rates relief
There are local businesses in my region, with one pub owner saying that, basically, this reduced discount is a hammer blow for the industry and for him particularly. Another, 57 Bridge Street in Usk, has also said the Welsh Government is crippling an already…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Business rates relief
Janet, will you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
I would like to request a statement from the health Minister, please. Last week, it was announced that the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board supported the plan for Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny in my region to be closed every night of the week. It…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Chair.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
There certainly are a lot of pressures on the system at the moment, Minister, you're quite right. But do you share my concern—this is my last question to you—that, of course, under the current situation, and LAs making cuts, we are seeing some cuts to some…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
Okay, thank you, Minister. Your paper says that the Bill is simply not affordable. Could you just comment further on your concerns regarding the costs, and are there any alternative options and funding models for schools to finance a residential outdoor…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
So, you see that as, potentially, an extra burden on schools, then.
