Written question WQ89947
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
What consideration has the Minister given to withdrawing commitments to reforming school holidays, following the results of the first consultation showing that there is reasonable satisfaction with the current structure?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The only consultation on this matter we have undertaken is the Consultation on the School Year, published on 21 November 2023.
During 2021/22, Beaufort Research carried out a public engagement and research exercise on perceptions around alternative school calendars and other high-level considerations on the structure of the school year. Whilst this was valuable research, it was not a formal consultation.
The report, published in 2022 found that there was openness to considering change. Furthermore, when asked to compare various structures, most participating learners and members of the education workforce chose an alternative model to the current school year system. It recommended further work and engagement was needed to ensure the perceptions of different groups were sufficiently represented. This subsequent work has formed the basis of the proposals on the current consultation on the school year, which is open until 12 February 2024.
This work is being carried out in collaboration with Sian Gwenllian, the Plaid Cymru Designated Member, as part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.