Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
One of the joys of being an education minister is visiting schools – meeting learners, leaders, teachers, teaching assistants and all the amazing people who make up our school communities. It is why I have committed to visiting a school a week during my time in office.
Since becoming Minister in May, I have visited schools from Ynys Mon to Torfaen and have been struck once again by the work schools do, not just in terms of the main education focus but their wider contribution too – from food and fun to a real commitment to making sure all learners feel they belong.
I’m looking forward to meeting more of you this Autumn, during school visits, and in a Head Teacher conference we are preparing for after half term – date to be confirmed soon.
I am proud that in our first 100 days in Government we delivered what we said we would.
We announced an uplift in priority teacher incentives, committed to rolling out free school meals in secondary schools to families on universal credit, and developed national statutory guidelines restricting mobile phones in schools, which we will consult on this term.
The summer also provided opportunities to celebrate. Many thousands of learners received their GCSE, A-level and vocational qualifications and I saw firsthand the amazing talents of those performing at the National Eisteddfod.
But I would be disingenuous if I didn’t acknowledge that there are still areas that remain to be resolved, including agreeing a way forward on ALN. I understand and recognise the pressures on our workforce, schools and settings to support learners with additional learning needs.
I am working with our social partners to build a shared approach to support for the ALN system, so that children and young people receive the right support, at the right time, to meet their needs.
I have made clear my feeling that teaching is one of the most rewarding professions, but I appreciate that successive reforms have taken their toll. You have told me of your concerns about the impact on our learners, including the foundational literacy and numeracy skills that they need to get the full benefit from the Curriculum for Wales.
That is why my main focus as Cabinet Minister will be on improving literacy and numeracy. Before the end of term, I wrote to schools, setting out my overall approach to improving literacy and numeracy in Wales, by providing more consistent support for all schools in Wales, in the context of the Curriculum for Wales, and setting out new national indicators to monitor progress. I will be publishing our Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan later this month to clarify the support that schools will receive to help achieve this.
Throughout my visits to schools, one message has been clear: our education workforce remains deeply committed to supporting our children and young people, despite significant pressures.
That is why improving the conditions of learning is a priority, making sure you feel valued, supported and can progress and develop in one of the most valuable careers. Listening to you and reducing unnecessary burdens so that you can focus on what matters most – our children and young people – will remain an important part of that work.
As we begin this new school year, I know there is much to do. And I will be honest; there are challenges and difficult decisions will have to be made. But together we are stronger and I am committed to listening and working tirelessly to improve the conditions for teaching and learning.
Diolch yn fawr
Anna Brychan, Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language