The final report was published of an independent review of qualifications for young people in Wales aged 14–19. It recommended building on and strengthening the Welsh baccalaureate.
Source: Review of Qualifications for 14 to 19-Year-Olds in Wales: Final Report and Recommendations, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Welsh Government press release | NASUWT press release | NUT press release | Plaid Cymru press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Nov
The Welsh Government published a 20-point action plan aimed at driving up standards and performance in schools in Wales.
Source: Improving Schools, Welsh Government
Links: Plan (summary) | Welsh Government press release | WLGA press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Oct
The education inspectorate in Wales said that only a few secondary schools in Wales identified, supported, and challenged more able and talented pupils.
Source: Supporting More Able and Talented Pupils in Secondary Schools, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Jun
An article examined the divergent approaches in England, Scotland, and Wales towards raising schoolchildren's basic standards of competence. It considered whether the divergence reflected differences in social policy objectives, and/or different understandings of the best way to achieve them. Empirical findings pointed to a widening gap in educational attainments across the countries, and highlighted the critical situation in Scotland where test results had stagnated in the previous 10 years.
Source: Paola Mattei, 'Raising educational standards: national testing of pupils in the United Kingdom, 1988-2009', Policy Studies, Volume 33 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jun
The education inspectorate in Wales said that local authorities needed to take action to reduce the number of surplus places in primary and secondary schools across Wales. Surplus places tied up scarce resources that could be used to improve the quality of education for more learners.
Source: How Do Surplus Places Affect the Resources Available for Expenditure on Improving Outcomes for Pupils?, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | WLGA press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-May
The education inspectorate in Wales said that very few schools planned effectively enough how to develop the communication, numeracy, and thinking skills of children aged 11-14 across the curriculum.
Source: An Evaluation of the Impact of the Non-Statutory Skills Framework for 3 to 19-Year-Olds in Wales at Key Stage 3, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | WLGA press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-May
The education inspectorate in Wales said that many education and training providers relied too heavily on anecdotal evidence when assessing the impact of family learning programmes, and focused too much on the 'softer' outcomes such as verbal feedback and improved well-being. Very few schools tracked the longer-term impact of these programmes on the standards achieved by children.
Source: The Impact of Family Learning Programmes on Raising the Literacy and Numeracy Levels of Children and Adults, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2012-May
The Welsh Government published the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Bill, designed to strengthen school standards and reduce complexity and bureaucracy in the education system. Proposals in the Bill would:
• Provide a clearer process for school intervention and drive up school improvement through the introduction of statutory guidance.
• Reform the statutory process for school organization so that decisions were taken locally wherever possible.
• Remove the requirement for school governing bodies to hold annual parents' meetings and introduce a new right for parents to call meetings with school governing bodies.
• Give local authorities and schools greater flexibility over the pricing of school meals.
• Mainstream several grant-funded programmes to help streamline existing processes.
Source: School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Bill, Welsh Government
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Welsh Government press release | ASCL press release | Plaid Cymru press release | WLGA press release
Date: 2012-Apr
The education inspectorate in Wales published its annual report for 2010-11. Local authorities and other social care services were increasingly working together across regional and organizational boundaries: but the quality of outcomes varied, and more needed to be done to consistently deliver good-quality assessments and care management for both children and adults.
Source: Chief Inspector's Annual Report 2010-2011, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | Welsh Government press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Feb
The education inspectorate in Wales said that learners over the age of 65 did not have enough access to education or skills development opportunities that would help to improve their quality of life.
Source: Skills for Older Learners: The impact of adult community learning on the wellbeing of older learners, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Jan
The education inspectorate in Wales published its annual report for 2010-11. Performance in 4 out of 5 primary schools and 2 out of 3 secondary schools inspected was 'mainly good'. But there were still several areas that were a cause of concern, including children and young people's reading and writing skills, and the uneven quality of teaching and leadership.
Source: Annual Report 2010-2011, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release | NASUWT press release | WLGA press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Jan
