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Education

Unions respond to Estyn announcement

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EstynTHE MINISTER for Education  and Skills, Huw Lewis, is proposing  a change to regulations to allow  Estyn to inspect schools and other  providers at least once every seven  years, instead of once every six years.  The change would take effect from  September 2016 and be reviewed again  after a seven-year period (one cycle of  inspections). The move will introduce  more flexibility into the planning of  inspections and allocation of resources.  Meilyr Rowlands, Chief Inspector,  says: “I welcome the flexibility  the proposal to move to a sevenyear  inspection period gives Estyn.  The extended inspection cycle will  allow us to be more responsive to  implementing any changes that may  result from our recent consultation  on inspections. Early analysis of the  responses show that there is support for  a more proportional approach.

We also  look forward to being fully involved in  shaping the new curriculum.”  Commenting on the Education  Minister’s proposal that the inspection  period for schools should be extended  to seven years to allow Estyn to be  fully involved in developing the new  curriculum, Chris Keates, General  Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest  teachers’ union in Wales, said:  “The NASUWT’s notes the  Minister’s concern for the workload of  the Welsh inspectorate, the workload  of teachers and schools merits equal  concern during this period of radical  change.  “Estyn, along with other  stakeholders in the education system,  has an important role in play in taking  forward the development of the new  curriculum, but it is teachers who  have the experience of delivering a  curriculum and understanding how  children learn and make the best  progress.

“In order for the new curriculum to  be a success, it is teachers who should  be at the heart of its development.  “The NASUWT would welcome  the positive engagement of Estyn with  schools on implementing the new  curriculum. Unfortunately, Estyn’s  approach to inspection has created a  climate of mistrust which needs to be  overcome before Estyn can play an  effective role in curriculum change.  “Education Scotland, Estyn’s  equivalent in Scotland, played a  positive role in supporting schools with  curriculum reform. It was only able to  do so because it had the trust of the  profession.”

Rex Phillips, NASUWT National  Official Wales, said: “The work to  develop and design the new curriculum  is fundamental to the future of the  Welsh education system.  “Those who will be at the heart  of delivering the curriculum must be  at the heart of its development. The  involvement of Estyn, the Consortia  and other stakeholders must be  additional to, not instead of, the direct  involvement of teachers.  “Previously, the Minister said that  the new curriculum should be built by  the profession, for the profession. We  expect him to keep to that pledge.”  Commenting on the Welsh  government announcement on Estyn,  Rob Williams, Director of Policy,  NAHT Cymru, the school leaders’  union for Wales, said: “we welcome  the announcement that the current six  year cycle of school inspections will be  extended to seven.

“This extra year will be crucial to  fully develop the recommendations in  Professor Graham Donaldson’s report.  It will provide the necessary space for  schools across Wales to work in the  most creative ways, and recognises  the need for Estyn to be able to release  pressure upon schools within the  current inspection cycle. This backs up  previous promises made by the Minister  to place trust in the profession in order  to work towards agreed common goals.  School leaders in Wales know that the  new inspection arrangements planned  for 2017 onwards have an opportunity  to play a vital part of the shared goal  of driving up standards in education.  The question of current added pressure  associated with an Estyn inspection has  now happily been addressed.  “NAHT has campaigned for this  extra time, which will help school  leaders to fully bring in the changes,  and will allow the inspectorate to be  fully involved in developing the new  curriculum

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Business

Kurtz addresses Employment and Skills Convention

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SENEDD Member Samuel Kurtz kicked off an Employment and Skills Convention at the Cardiff City Stadium recently, organised by the Learning and Skills Institute. The event sought to unite organisations, businesses, and training providers to discuss critical issues surrounding employment and skills development across Wales.

The convention featured a panel of distinguished speakers, including local Samuel Kurtz MS, who is the Shadow Minister for the Economy and Energy; Rhys Morris, Managing Director of The Busy Group; and Megan Hooper, Director for Employment and Skills at Serco. Together, they explored strategies for increasing employment and the positive impacts this can have on individuals, young people, and the broader community.

Following the event, Samuel Kurtz said: “It was a privilege to speak at this convention and to underscore the vital role of collaboration between government and the private sector in aligning skills and training with the evolving needs of our economy.

“By enhancing skills and creating jobs, we can foster a resilient workforce that will not only meet today’s demands but also drive essential green infrastructure projects, ensuring a prosperous future for young people in Wales.

“Welsh Government Ministers must acknowledge their role in addressing high levels of economic inactivity. Introducing employment targets is essential to support people in re-entering the workforce and contributing to Wales’ economic growth.”

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Education

Concern over ‘highest-ever’ school bullying rates

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RATES of bullying in Welsh schools have reached record levels, with more than one in three children and young people reporting being bullied, the Senedd heard.

Gareth Davies raised concerns about a 6% increase in bullying between 2021 and 2023, according to a survey of more than 130,000 pupils in 200 secondary schools.

The Conservatives’ shadow mental health minister told the Senedd: “These results are higher than ever previously reported in the survey, which is deeply troubling.”

He said the latest survey showed regression on “just about every metric of pupil wellbeing”, including growing social isolation and a rise in behavioural issues.

Mr Davies, who worked in the NHS in north Wales for more than a decade, pointed to a 2021 legal duty to have regard to the mental health of children and young people.

He said: “The mental health of pupils has declined and reports of bullying in schools have only increased, so the Welsh Government have failed in that duty, unfortunately.”

Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell called for an update to 2019 anti-bullying guidance for school governing bodies following a commitment from the Welsh Government eight months ago.

The shadow education secretary focused on the impact of poverty, warning the high cost of school uniforms can cause stress and lead to bullying.

Mr Campbell, a former lecturer, expressed concerns about penalties, such as detention, for pupils over non-compliance with uniform policies.

Raising a report on “horrific” experiences of racism in Welsh schools, he said one pupil was told a classmate did not want to sit next to them due to the colour of their skin.

“That’s entirely unacceptable in our schools,” said Mr Campbell.

Labour’s Carolyn Thomas warned children’s mental health is at an all-time low, pointing to smartphones and social media as major contributing factors.

She said: “They can be used to bully, manipulate and control, sending young people into an isolated world of despair, not thinking they can get out of it or go to somebody for help.”

The North Wales politician highlighted a petition calling for a ban on phones in schools.

Rhys ab Owen, an independent who represents South Wales Central, stressed that bullying can impact people for decades to come after school.

“But it’s an issue that doesn’t affect learners equally,” he said. “In Cardiff, around a third of learners come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

“And I was staggered to read a survey from 2020, which said that 61.5% of learners had expressed stereotypes over skin colour, religion and nationality.”

In a statement on November 12 to mark anti-bullying week, Lynne Neagle accepted that bullying continues to be an issue in Welsh schools.

Pledging to prioritise the problem, Wales’ education secretary said new statutory anti-bullying guidance will be published for consultation after Christmas.

Ms Neagle pointed to concerning trends, including 42% of girls scoring high or very high in a questionnaire on psychological problems compared with 27% of boys.

She told the Senedd: “I wouldn’t want to be a teenager growing up today.”

Ms Neagle stated the Welsh Government provided more than £800,000 this year for one of the biggest surveys of children and young people in the UK.

She said: “The link between bullying and mental health is well known. At its most extreme, young people have taken their own lives as a result of being bullied. This is a tragedy for the young life lost, for their family and friends and for whole communities.”

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Education

Planning for a greener future at Pembroke Dock Community School

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LEARNERS at Pembroke Dock Community School are being inspired to think of a future in renewable energy as they found out more about how the energy sector is changing in Pembrokeshire.

The whole school focused on the topic and discovered more about wind turbines, energy testing areas, combating climate change, solar power, and more, in a number of engaging and practical workshops.

Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and the Darwin Centre brought the subject to life and learners enjoyed getting involved in researching and testing their work.

Some groups designed and built model floating platforms for offshore wind turbines as well as model turbines, children learnt all about how renewable energy is generated and used in modern life, as well as storage energy, while others went on a visit to Dragon LNG in Waterston to see a solar power farm.

Science, maths, problem solving and key thinking skills were all incorporated into the projects.
Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher Michele Thomas said: “The work of the school this term has been inspired by the exciting opportunities in net-zero careers in Pembrokeshire, as Wales heads towards being net-zero by 2050.  

“We want our learners to be knowledgeable about renewable energy across many levels, and to experience what it would be like to be a scientist or an engineer in the field. We have also strived to empower our learners to take social action on matters that are important to them and their lives, as well as on local decisions that impact on the global population. 

“The staff have been hugely creative in their curriculum design, which has in turn engaged and inspired all of the learners right across all school.”

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