The Welsh Assembly government published a higher education strategy and plan for Wales. It included a 'significant shift' in how the £400 million annual funding from the Welsh Assembly Government to the HE sector in Wales would be spent – with the aim of improving efficiency, widening access, developing strong links between the economy and higher education providers, and improving opportunities for learning through the medium of Welsh.
Source: For Our Future: The 21st Century Higher Education Strategy and Plan for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Strategy | ICG press release | ATL press release
Date: 2009-Dec
The National Assembly for Wales approved a measure giving children and young people with special education needs new rights of appeal with regard to their education.
Source: Education (Wales) Measure, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Measure | Explanatory notes
Date: 2009-Nov
The Welsh Assembly government published a strategy for higher education in Wales, promising a 'radical transformation' designed to improve efficiency, widen access, develop strong links between the economy and higher education providers, and improve opportunities for learning through the medium of Welsh.
Source: For Our Future: The 21st century higher education strategy and plan for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Strategy | Strategy (Welsh) | NUS press release | WalesOnline report
Date: 2009-Nov
The education inspectorate in Wales said that funding from the Welsh Assembly Government 'RAISE' initiative, designed to help economically and socially disadvantaged pupils, had had a positive impact on pupils' attitudes, attendance, and behaviour.
Source: The Impact of RAISE 2008-2009: Evaluation of the impact of RAISE funding on raising the levels of performance of disadvantaged pupils – A report on the third year of the programme, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jul
An official taskgroup report examined the purpose, role, and funding of higher education in Wales. It called for a national approach designed to achieve a 'step change' in the success of the sector, based on a 'National Compact'.
Source: Review of Higher Education in Wales – Phase 2 Report, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report | UCU press release | Cardiff University press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jun
The Welsh Assembly government published (following a review) an action plan designed to promote positive behaviour and attendance in schools. It emphasized the importance of: raising levels of literacy among young people; better training for teaching professionals; and greater recognition of the role of parents.
Source: Behaving and Attending: Action plan responding to the National Behaviour and Attendance Review, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Action plan | WAG press release | Review report | Voice press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Mar
The education inspectorate in Wales said that more schools needed to adopt best practice to improve young pupils' reading and writing skills.
Source: Best Practice in the Reading and Writing of Pupils Aged Five to Seven Years, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Mar
The education inspectorate in Wales published its annual report for 2007-08. Generally, standards of achievement across all sectors of education and training in Wales were at least good: but around 30 per cent of inspections showed that providers were not doing well enough.
Source: The Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales 2007-2008, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | Summary | HMCIETW press release | TSN press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jan
A report by a committee of MPs said that there would be a negative impact on the Welsh economy if the country's further and higher education system continued to receive proportionately less core funding than English institutions, and a smaller relative share of research funding.
Source: Cross-border Provision of Public Services For Wales: Further and higher education, First Report (Session 2008-09), HC 57, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jan
