Written question WQ86206

I want Wales to be as attractive as possible for teachers to enter the profession and I recently made an oral statement on 27th September where I outlined the work Welsh Government are doing to support the education workforce’s wellbeing. I firmly believe this is a vital component of ensuring the teaching profession in Wales is attractive to high quality graduates.

I also consider high quality initial teacher education (ITE), fully engaged with the wider education sector, invaluable in attracting and educating our future workforce. If teaching is to be a first-choice profession so that we can attract the very best, we must get Wales’ ITE offer right. The ITE reforms have transformed Wales’ ITE system into a research informed and engaged community of both schools and HEIs, reflecting the pride and shared ambition for the profession.

Wales’ student support is the fairest, most progressive, and sustainable student support system in the UK. The undergraduate package of support, available to undergraduate and PGCE student teachers, guarantees every student will receive support equivalent to the National Living Wage while they study. In addition, the various ITE incentive schemes help attract high quality graduates with subject and language specialisms to enter intellectually challenging and rigorously practical ITE programmes.

Improvements have been made to statutory induction; we are providing funding for trained mentors to support all NQTs throughout induction. A national programme of professional learning has also been developed, which is available to all practitioners including NQTs, regardless of whether they are working on a contract or supply basis. Our National Professional Learning Entitlement which will include a new validation process will ensure quality and recognition is available to all.

We have taken a social partnership approach in relation to teachers’ pay and terms and conditions. Working with the teaching profession to help provide higher salaries and allowances for both new and experienced teachers when compared to England. We are also working with key education stakeholders to tackle workload and I have announced increased funding to support the mental health and wellbeing of the education workforce, with funding of £1.2million this financial year, rising to £3million by 2024/25.

From initial teacher education, into the classroom and through career-long professional learning, with appropriate support for the profession’s wellbeing, Welsh Government’s approach focusses on ensuring and further developing a high-quality teaching profession. I resolutely believe that this, together with the Curriculum for Wales and our commitment to high standards and aspirations for all learners, will help attract the right people with the right skills, qualifications, and an aptitude for teaching, to enter the profession.