The report of an independent review (led by Adrian Webb) called for radical changes in the way post-14 education was delivered in Wales in order to close the basic skills gap. More vocational learning was needed for young people aged 14-19, as well as a 50 per cent increase in apprenticeships offered.
Source: Independent Review of the Mission and Purpose of Further Education, Promise and Performance, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report | Report (Welsh) | WAG statement | BBC report
Date: 2007-Dec
A paper examined the effects of child poverty on educational attainment in Wales. Although child poverty had been significantly reduced throughout Wales, it still affected more than 1 in 4 children. Disadvantaged children were not enjoying the rate of progress experienced by their more privileged peers.
Source: David Egan, Combating Child Poverty in Wales: Are effective education strategies in place?, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Paper | JRF press release
Date: 2007-Dec
An article examined the costs of community-based approaches to engaging non-traditional learners in south Wales. Although relatively expensive institutional responses – like free provision with childcare in the community – had eliminated many of the barriers that created financial costs for learners, there was less evidence of success in reducing barriers that created emotional costs for learners.
Source: Duncan Holtom, 'What are the true costs of community-based learning?', Contemporary Wales, Volume 20 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
A report said that the closure of small schools in Wales was 'overwhelmingly beneficial'. the quality and standard of education had improved when small schools merged into larger ones.
Source: David Reynolds, Small School Closures in Wales: New Evidence, Institute of Welsh Affairs (029 2057 5511)
Links: IWA press release | WLGA press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Nov
The children's rights watchdog in Wales highlighted the danger of unofficial school exclusions – cases where parents were asked to keep their children at home unofficially, without a fixed or permanent exclusion.
Source: Report Following Investigation into Unofficial School Exclusions, Children's Commissioner for Wales (01792 765600)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Oct
An audit report said that there was no clear link between the level of expenditure reported by local authorities in Wales and the quality of special educational needs provision. Councils were not yet able to tell whether or not their special educational needs provision was cost-effective: but there were good examples of initiatives that had the potential to improve the understanding of this.
Source: Good Practice in Special Educational Needs Funding, Wales Audit Office (029 2026 0260)
Links: Report | WAO press release
Date: 2007-Jul
The education inspectorate in Wales examined the use made by schools of a grant scheme designed to raise attainment by disadvantaged pupils. Most schools had a clear picture of the link between economic disadvantage and underachievement.
Source: The Impact of RAISE Funding: An interim report, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2007-Jul
A study (based on the Millennium Cohort Study) that compared children brought up in Welsh-English bilingual and English-only homes found that they displayed almost no difference in their English vocabulary and 'school readiness' assessments at age 3.
Source: Kirstine Hansen and Heather Joshi (eds.), Millennium Cohort Study Second Survey: A User?s Guide to Initial Findings, Centre for Longitudinal Studies/University of London (020 7612 6875)
Links: Report | CLS Briefings | CLS press release
Date: 2007-Jun
The education inspectorate in Wales highlighted the lack of consistent procedures across Wales to trace children who went missing from education. Vulnerable children were at greatest risk of going missing.
Source: Local Education Authority Practice in Monitoring the Location of Pupils Being Educated Outside the School Setting and Those Missing from Education, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2007-May
The education inspectorate in Wales said that moves to reduce teachers' workload had had a positive impact on staff morale: but it was too early to judge whether pupils were reaping the benefits.
Source: The Impact of Workforce Remodelling on Pupils' Learning and Raising Standards, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | NASUWT press release
Date: 2007-Mar
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that lives could be blighted if proper arrangements were not made to help young people with special educational needs transfer from school to further education or work.
Source: Policy Review of Additional Educational Needs Part 3: Transition, Education Lifelong Learning and Skills Committee/National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report | NAW press release
Date: 2007-Mar
The education inspectorate in Wales outlined the way schools in Wales needed to change to meet learners' needs. Schools would need to co-operate increasingly with other schools, colleges, service providers, training organizations and workplaces.
Source: Transforming Schools: A discussion paper, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Discussion paper | HMCIETW press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Mar
The education inspectorate in Wales said that schools and their wider communities needed to do more to teach young people about the moral and emotional aspects of sex and relationships.
Source: Sex and Relationships Guidance, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2007-Mar
The education inspectorate in Wales called for a more joined-up approach by the Welsh Assembly Government, education providers, and local authorities towards the evaluation of progress by learners with special educational needs.
Source: Evaluating Outcomes for Children and Young People with Additional Learning Needs, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2007-Feb
The education inspectorate in Wales Published its annual report for 205-06. It expressed concern about the low number of pupils leaving schools in Wales with good qualifications in core subjects.
Source: The Annual Report of Her Majesty?s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales 2005-2006, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
