January 2026

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

The Curriculum for Wales Policy Group continues to meet monthly in locations across Wales. Workshops focus on the ongoing process of reviewing and refining the Curriculum for Wales Framework guidance, co-construction of supporting materials, and contributing to the work of Welsh Government’s partners where our work dovetails. Representatives of Adoption UK, Adnodd, Arad Research, DARPL, and Microsoft have all met with the Group over the last year.

The Group has helped develop Tools and templates for curriculum design and has  published a Blog post to help schools and settings develop their Curriculum summaries.

They’ve contributed to work around curriculum and assessment design, enabling learning guidance, literacy and numeracy, and international languages.

We operate a reserve list to make sure the Policy Group remains representative of all types of schools and settings across Wales. If you currently work in a school or setting using the Curriculum for Wales and have a passion for working with others to co-construct solutions, please complete the Expression of interest form. We’ll contact practitioners on the Reserve list when a place becomes available.  We are especially keen to hear from practitioners in pupil referral units (PRUs) and other providers of education other than at school (EOTAS), and those working in Blaenau Gwent, Ceredigion, Denbighshire, Merthyr Tydfil, and Monmouthshire

The current members are:

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

This is not just about understanding history or geography it is about preparing learners to become active, informed, and responsible citizens who can engage with democratic processes and make thoughtful decisions about the world around them.

For teachers, this matters because it shapes what and how we teach, from early years through to age 16, learners are expected to explore concepts such as rights, responsibility, justice, and governance, and to understand how political systems operate locally, nationally, and globally. By embedding these ideas into your curriculum design, you help learners develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical reasoning skills essential for life in modern Wales and beyond.

The next Senedd election will take place on 7 May 2026. Anyone aged 16 and over who lives in Wales can vote. This is a great opportunity to bring real time politics to life in the classroom.

There are lots of resources and organisations available to support you to engage your learners in democratic education ahead of the election.

Resources, events and more

Senedd Election 2026 Resources

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, the Senedd Commission, and the Electoral Commission have worked in partnership to create new resources that support young people to learn about the Senedd and how to vote. The resources are aimed at first-time voters but are suitable for all young people in year 10 and up.

The resources cover key topics including:

Resources include an assembly, lesson plans, short activities, and educator guidance.

Download the Senedd election resources: Democracy Classroom

Let’s Talk Senedd: Educator Training Programme

The Senedd Commission’s free online Teams sessions are designed for educators who are beginners when it comes to learning about the Senedd. It aims to boost educator confidence when starting conversations with young people about politics, voting, and elections.

In this 45-minute session, educators will learn about the Senedd, democracy in Wales, and they will be provided with step-by-step guidance on delivering sessions to young people.

Visiting the Senedd

Educators can arrange a free school educational session to the Senedd and receive a bespoke session from the Senedd’s Education Team. The sessions are designed for all ages and provides an insight on how the Senedd, and democracy works in Wales. A travel subsidy is also available.

To book your visit: https://senedd.wales/visit/education-and-youth-engagement/visit-us

Outreach and Education Visit

The Senedd Education team also provides a free educational visit to your school, college or youth group. Visits are tailored to your needs but with a clear emphasis on the work of the Senedd and the upcoming Senedd Elections.

Welcome to Your Vote Week (9 – 16 March 2026)

An opportunity for those who work with young people to start a conversation about democracy and voting. Every year the Electoral Commission invite schools, youth groups, and local elections teams to join them in celebrating democracy by running activities that help young people understand how it works and how to get involved.

This year’s theme is ‘Why Voting Matters’. Discover the difference voting makes and how young people can have their voices heard.

Find out more and sign-up to take part.

Electoral Commission resources including resources about how to design a voter registration campaign, run a registration drive and on mis and disinformation.

Guidance on how to embed democratic education within the Curriculum for Wales

Videos for young people about the Senedd and Senedd elections.

Host a Hustings Cymru

Here teachers and youth practitioners can access help to organise and deliver their own youth hustings events for the 2026 Senedd elections.

Youth Hustings provide a platform for young people aged 14–25 to engage directly with electoral candidates in Welsh elections. They give young people the chance to ask questions, voice their opinions, and take part in meaningful dialogue in the run-up to local and national votes. Events can be run in person or online.

To find out more about Host a Hustings Cymru, and to register your interest in taking part 

Digital Dialogues: Wales Programme

Support for learners across Wales to have meaningful conversations with their elected representatives.

It also helps teachers to prepare learners for those conversations through delivering engaging workshops with learning resources that empower learners to become ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world, directly supporting one of the four core purposes of the Curriculum for Wales. To find out more about Digital Dialogue: Wales 

Shout Out UK (SOUK)

Is running a two-year programme of interactive workshops across schools and colleges in Wales to inform and empower young people (aged 14-18) to participate actively in the country’s democracy.

The programme aims to increase participants’ likelihood to vote and their understanding of political processes. It will also equip students with skills to evaluate election-related information, identify mis/disinformation, combat online hate, promote candidate safety, and become responsible, active, and informed digital citizens. Contact caitlin@shoutoutuk.org to organise free sessions in your school!

Information and links to all of the above, as well as additional resources to support you in the build up to the 2026 election can be found on the Senedd Elections page of Democracy Classroom.

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

Wales is shaking up how teachers and education staff develop their skills. As of September 2025, Dysgu, the new National Professional Learning and Leadership Education Wales body, will steer professional learning opportunities across the country.

Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, Dysgu’s CEO, leads a team of thirteen staff members who are spearheading the change.

Dysgu represents a significant shift toward a more streamlined, consistent approach to professional development in education, ultimately aiming to improve support for educators and outcomes for learners across Wales.

During its first year – a transitional year – Dysgu will take on responsibility for national programmes in areas such as literacy, numeracy and well-being, alongside developing support for leaders at all levels.

Dysgu will build capacity around three key themes:

• Leadership
• Curriculum and Teaching
• Well-being and Inclusion

Dysgu’s offer will deliver high-quality Professional Learning in Welsh and English reflecting the needs and aspirations of the sector and responding to national priorities.

Work is already underway delivering the newly-revised NPQH Wales programme for aspiring headteachers and providing experienced headteachers with coaching opportunities. In early November a new pilot, Calm Classrooms Thriving Minds: professional learning for educators, was advertised on Hwb and a Maths roadshow aimed at secondary schools is being delivered by Dysgu and Estyn in February. Dysgu’s new Chair – Professor Dylan Jones – starts in post this January and new Board members are being recruited.

Dysgu will work alongside the Welsh Government on policy, with Estyn on inspection findings, and with local authorities, who will focus on providing tailored training to address specific school needs through school-to-school collaboration models.

Dysgu will develop professional learning that is accessible, consistent, and impactful, empowering educators to thrive and improving outcomes for every learner in Wales.

Be part of the journey

Sign up for Dysgu’s newsletter to discover new opportunities, events, and resources shaping the future of education in Wales.

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

Our research evaluating the policies that support Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Wales is underway. The research has been guided by a stakeholder steering group with representatives from:

• Education Workforce Council
• Estyn
• ITE Partnerships
• The Teacher Education Accreditation Board
• Welsh Government
• Welsh Local Government Association

Since the summer term Alma Economics has been working with our steering group to scope out the evaluation and prepare the field work phase of the research.

This research will help us understand how our policies can better support the recruitment, development and ongoing support of student teachers as they begin their professional journey as well as the wider ITE sector.

If you are involved in ITE, are a student teacher or early career teacher, here’s your opportunity to provide your views on our ITE system.

What the research is examining

High-quality ITE is fundamental to ensuring excellent education for all children and young people in Wales. The evaluation focuses on Wales’ education policies and legislative reforms that support our ITE system and examine how ITE incentive schemes have influenced the recruitment of student teachers.

Get involved

If your school is involved in ITE, you may be approached by your ITE Partnership to participate in this research.

You can also help us by completing an online survey. Please complete one survey only.

If you work in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or are an ITE student, please follow the HEI survey link:

• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N3526LZ

If you work in an ITE Clinical Practice School or are a Newly Qualified Teacher, please follow this Schools survey link:

• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QW6VHTJ

The survey takes around 10-15 minutes to complete, and your participation is anonymous and voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time by closing the browser window. You can find more information about how your data will be stored and used here: https://tinyurl.com/2rymvv45  

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

We are pleased to introduce the updated School Improvement Guidance, which strengthens the way we support improvement across Wales. The guidance reflects the outcomes of the recent review of roles and responsibilities and sets out a clear, shared ambition: that every learner is supported to achieve their full potential within an equitable and collaborative education system. 

At the centre of the guidance is a straightforward principle: improvement is a shared responsibility. 

Schools should not work in isolation. By developing strong local improvement communities, partners can draw on collective expertise, respond to challenges more effectively, and develop solutions that are sustainable and focused on learners’ needs. This is about building a culture rooted in openness, trust and ongoing learning. 

The guidance is underpinned by five core principles: 

• Collective responsibility for raising standards for every learner. 

• Purposeful collaboration that brings in external perspectives and fosters professional dialogue. 

• A focus on activity that improves learning. 

• Building capacity within the school system, so expertise is shared and strengthened. 

• Clarity and coherence across partners, connecting local needs with national priorities. 

This is an exciting opportunity for schools, local authorities, and partners to work together in new ways – through vertical and horizontal collaboration, robust self-evaluation, and strategic planning that truly makes a difference. The aim is clear: better outcomes, stronger leadership, and a more inclusive education system for Wales. 

We encourage all partners to engage fully with this guidance and play an active role in shaping an improvement system that works for everyone. By working collectively, we can build a system that responds to today’s challenges while laying firm foundations for future success.