An article examined educational policy and management in Wales in the context of public spending cuts imposed by the coalition government in the United Kingdom.
Source: Ken Reid, 'Changes to educational policy and management in Wales: facing the "cuts" and new strategic challenges', Educational Review, Volume 63 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
A study found that young people, teaching staff, local authorities, and counsellors all expressed high overall levels of satisfaction with school-based counselling in Wales.
Source: Andy Hill, Mick Cooper, Kate Smith, Nick Maybanks, Karen Cromarty, Sue Pattison, Joanne Pybis, and Angela Couchman, Evaluation of the Welsh School-based Counselling Strategy: Stage One Report, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2011-Nov
The Welsh Government published a White Paper setting out its legislative proposals in relation to schools, including plans for greater intervention in schools causing concern.
Source: School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Bill: White Paper, Welsh Government
Links: White Paper | BBC report
Date: 2011-Oct
An article examined a resource allocation model for local education services in Wales that was based on outcomes.
Source: Glen Bramley, David Watkins, and Noah Kofi Karley, ' An outcome-based resource allocation model for local education services in Wales', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Volume 29 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined the development of schools counselling in Wales. Early intervention through counselling contributed to better attendance and engagement with learning, as well as promoting young people's broader well-being.
Source: Liz Phillips and Robert Smith, Developing School Counselling Services for Children and Young People in Wales, National Foundation for Educational Research
Date: 2011-Sep
The education inspectorate in Wales said that the foundation phase was having a positive impact on the well-being of children; and in the majority of primary schools children aged 5-6 were achieving well. However, in a minority of schools there was a lack of understanding of the principles and practices of the foundation phase; and in a few schools staff were not convinced about its educational value.
Source: Literacy and the Foundation Phase: An evaluation of the implementation of the foundation phase for five to six-year-olds in primary schools, with special reference to literacy, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | NAHT press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Sep
The education inspectorate in Wales said that too few schools planned a 'skills-based' curriculum that consisted of progressively more complex activities designed to develop pupils' thinking, communication, information/communications technology, and number skills. This was because generally there was not a clear understanding of how to use the non-statutory skills framework as the basis for planning a curriculum.
Source: The Skills Framework at Key Stage 2: An evaluation of the impact of the non-statutory skills framework for 3 to 19-year-olds in Wales at key stage 2, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2011-Jul
The education inspectorate in Wales said that schools needed to get better at identifying and supporting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Source: Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage in Schools: Working with the community and other services, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Jul
The education inspectorate in Wales said that further education colleges needed to do more to ensure that learners from deprived areas realized their potential. Only a small number of colleges and work-based learning providers compared the achievements of students from different backgrounds; and they made too little use of data on enrolment to analyze whether they were offering the right courses to attract learners from deprived areas.
Source: The Impact of Deprivation on Learners Attainment in Further Education and Work-Based Learning, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2011-Jul
The Welsh Assembly Government announced that a new statutory literacy and numeracy framework would be introduced for all learners aged 5 to 14. The framework would provide schools with 'annual expected outcomes', helping to inform teachers of all subjects on how they needed to apply literacy and numeracy across the curriculum in order to raise levels of attainment.
Source: Press release 28 June 2011, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: WAG press release | WalesOnline report
Date: 2011-Jun
The education inspectorate in Wales said that there had been a 'marked improvement' in the provision of practical help and support to pupils with disabilities in mainstream schools and pupil referral units.
Source: Review of Disability Equality Schemes and Practices in Schools and Pupil Referral Units, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A think-tank report examined school attainment in Wales at key stage 3 (age 14). It said that continuous monitoring of individual pupils' performance was one of the most powerful tools that schools had for improving education outcomes.
Source: Making a Difference at Key Stage 3, Institute of Welsh Affairs
Links: Summary | IWA press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Apr
An independent review examined the future structure of education in Wales. It said that other countries spent less money on education than Wales did, but delivered better outcomes. Too many Welsh schools were 'coasting' when it came to literacy and numeracy. There was a 'disappointing degree of inconsistency' between providers at all levels. Local authorities were too small to provide high-quality services and professional support to schools in their charge.
Source: Independent Task and Finish Group, The Structure of Education Services in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Report | ASCL press release | WLGA press release | WalesOnline report
Date: 2011-Mar
The Welsh Assembly Government outlined a plan for improving the performance of the education system in Wales. There would be 'more direct input' from the government, which would set out a clear programme for improvement – including the aim of being in the top 20 countries (measured by PISA scores) by 2015.
Source: Speech by Leighton Andrews AM (Minister for Education), 2 February 2011
Links: Speech | WAG press release | NASUWT press release | Voice press release | WalesOnline report
Date: 2011-Feb
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that it supported in principle a proposed measure that would: place a duty on schools, colleges, and local councils to consider collaborative working; give local councils the power to propose that schools within their area federate under a single governing body; give power to the minister to require small schools to federate; place duties on local councils to provide training to school governors; and prevent schools in the future from changing category so as to become foundation schools, and to prevent new foundation schools being established.
Source: Proposed Education (Wales) Measure, Legislation Committee No 5, National Assembly for Wales
Links: Report | NAW press release
Date: 2011-Jan
The Welsh Assembly Government responded to a report by an Assembly Committee on young people not in education, employment or training.
Source: Welsh Assembly Government Response to the Enterprise and Learning Committee's Recommendations in the Report: Young People not in Education, Employment or Training, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Response
Notes: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
The education inspectorate in Wales said that standards of education and training in Wales had been maintained over the previous six years and, in some instances, had improved: but progress had been particularly slow in schools.
Source: Annual Report 2009-2010, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | NASUWT press release | Plaid Cymru press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Jan
