INCA Education around the world
Wales : Context, principles and reforms
1.2.1 Aims, objectives, values, principles
1.2 Purposes of education
1.2.1 Aims, objectives, values, principles
Pre-compulsory
In Wales, good quality early childhood education for the under-fives should encompass a range of principles, including to:
- Contribute to the all-round growth and development of every child.
- Provide a springboard for learning through both structured and spontaneous play.
- Ensure active involvement and relevant first hand experiences in an environment rich with possibilities.
- Value the contribution which parents or carers make to their child's education and encourage a working partnership.
- Ensure that equal opportunities are offered to girls and boys, to children with special educational needs (SEN) and to those from different cultures.
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Provide experiences and opportunities for young children to become aware of the distinctiveness of Wales, its languages and culture.102
Compulsory education
The basic principle underlying school education is that it should provide a balanced and broadly based curriculum which is suitable to a child's age, ability, aptitude and to any special educational needs (SEN) which he/she may have. A alanced and broadly based curriculum is defined as one which:
- Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students at school and in society.
- Prepares students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult and working life.103
The National Curriculum also aims to raise educational standards for all children aged 5 to 16.45
Better Wales Strategic Plan
In May 2000, the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) published the 'Better Wales Strategic Plan'. The first theme of the plan was to provide better opportunities for learning and, in the period to 2003, it committed the National Assembly to:
- Giving Wales' youngest children, including those in the most deprived communities, a 'flying start' to life.
- Driving up standards of teaching and attainment in all schools in Wales.
- Putting more investment in people and lifelong learning, so that everyone, and particularly the young in Wales, can gain the knowledge and skills they need to fulfil their potential and prosper.
- Promoting active citizenship, creativity and entrepreneurship.54
The benchmarks for 2010 established by 'Better Wales' take the themes of 2003 forward, by committing the National Assembly for Wales to achieving a situation where:
- Quality early years and childcare provision are available for all 3- and 4-year-olds.
- There are high standards and expectations for every child at school.
- The increase in overall student attainment outstrips the improvement seen in the 1990s.
- No school is assessed as having unsatisfactory or poor standards.
- Over 90 per cent of school students are entered for public examinations.
- Attendance exceeds 95 per cent.
- The attainment gap between boys and girls is halved.
- Provision for Welsh-speaking education is in balance with demand.
- Wales is recognised as an outstanding place in which to teach and learn.
- All school buildings are in good physical shape and properly maintained.
- Access to, and participation in, post-16 education and training has increased significantly.57
The Learning Country
In September 2001, the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) published The Learning Country, a policy statement for education and training in Wales until 2010. The document covers all phases of education from early years to adulthood and lifelong learning, and contains many proposals for policy directions in areas including early years provision, special educational needs and support for teachers. The full publication describes proposals for four main phases of education in Wales: a new foundation phase for 3- to 7-year-olds, a 7-11 phase, a phase for 11- to 14-year-olds, and a 14-19 phase to include the development of the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification.
Following on from this, in 2006 the NAfW launched The Learning Country: Vision into Action, its revised strategic plan for education, lifelong learning and skills to 2010. The strategic plan includes the following key proposals:
- Taking forward early years initiatives to help ensure high quality pre-school provision for all children.
- Establishing six specialist regional centres for additional learning needs.
- Introducing revised curriculum and assessment arrangements from 2008.
- Increasing the availability of the Welsh Baccalaureate at Advanced and Intermediate levels in post-16 education, and piloting a Foundation level model for 14- to 16-year-olds.
- Promoting a Welsh language sabbaticals scheme for primary and secondary school teachers and further education practitioners.
- Commissioning a comprehensive review of further education. 215
1.2.2 Special programmes
Many new education programmes and initiatives have been introduced since the election of the Labour Government in May 1997 for the United Kingdom (UK) (based in London), and since the election of the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) in 1999. These include:
Class size
A statutory maximum class size of 30 for all infant classes (Key Stage 1) in primary schools in Wales was introduced during the period 1999-2001, as follows:
| September 1999 | All reception classes in Wales to have no more than 30 children. |
| September 2000 | All reception and Year 1 classes (children aged 4-5 and 5-6 respectively) to have no more than 30 children. |
| September 2001 | All reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes (children aged 4-5, 5-6, and 6-7 respectively) to contain 30 children or fewer. |
See sections 4.1.3 and 4.2.3 in addition.
Pre-school provision
With a view to achieving the Government's stated aim that good quality, free (usually part-time) nursery places should be available for all 4-year-olds whose parents want them, local authorities (LAs) have had a statutory duty to ensure such provision since April 1999. In addition, since 2004, half-time funded places have been available in early years provision for all 3-year-olds whose parents request one. 45, 144
In Wales, the 'Flying Start' initiative, aimed at children from birth to 3 years of age, includes a package of measures specifically for the very youngest children living in disadvantaged areas. Flying Start targets the language, cognitive, social and emotional development of children. The centrepiece of the strategy is the provision of free, part-time childcare places for two -year-olds, extending the Assembly's existing childcare provision for all three- and four -year-olds. Increased support is also made available for parents (from health visitors, for example), and programmes have been designed to improve parenting skills. New integrated centres, or local primary schools, are being developed to provide a base for professionals working in the Flying Start programme and as information points for families. 203
An information booklet 'Choosing Childcare in Wales' has also been launched. This contains information on the types of childcare available and provides contact details for Children's Information Services (CIS), which are based in each local authority in Wales. It has been developed as part of the Welsh Assembly Government's 'Childcare is for Children' strategy published in November 2005. 214
New 'Foundation Phase'
Following a consultation in 2003, and a pilot programme in the intervening period, the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) is planning to introduce a 'foundation phase' of education for 3- to 7-year-olds. As a result, the formal learning which children aged 5 to 7 (in Key Stage 1 of primary education) currently experience will be replaced by a more informal system of learning based on well-structured play, practical activity and investigation. The pilot project began in September 2004 and the statutory rollout of the foundation phase will start from September 2008. To assist pilot schools and centres, a draft 'Framework for Children's Learning' for the foundation phase has been produced. This provides good practice for schools and settings to follow. Guidance on children's learning and assessment is also being produced to support the system of continuous assessment based on observation recommended during this phase.
National Grid for Learning (NGfL)
The National Grid for Learning (NGfL) was an Internet-based national UK Government initiative providing on-line teaching and learning materials. It aimed to introduce new ways of learning across the curriculum. Initially, the NGfL project focused on teacher development and schools, but the initiative also extended into the field of lifelong learning, including home-based learning, further and higher education, and training for employment.30 A new NGfL service specifically for Wales - NGfL Cymru - was launched in 2002. This bilingual portal uses digital technology to provide curriculum materials for use in schools across Wales. The portal is accessible at http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/. NGfL is no longer in existence in England, but NGfL Cymru still provides the above services in Wales.
General Teaching Council for Wales
The General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) is a professional body for teachers, which became operational in September 2000. Its role is to advise the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW), local authorities (LAs), schools and others on a wide range of teacher issues, including:
- The recruitment and supply of teachers.
- Initial training and induction.
- On-going professional development.
- Medical fitness and professional conduct.60, 49
The GTCW has developed a code of professional conduct and practice expected of registered teachers. The GTCW also maintains a register of qualified teachers and has powers to strike off teachers for serious professional misconduct or incompetence.60, 49 The GTCW's website is available at http://www.gtcw.org.uk/
Careers Wales
The National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) offers an all-age careers service, Careers Wales. Careers Wales aims to:
- Wwork with schools and college to ensure that, from the age of 13 onwards, all young people have the support needed to make informed decisions about careers and learning, and to make a successful transition from education to the world of work.
- Work with local partners to reduce disaffection amongst young people and offer all unemployed 16- and 17-year-olds help in finding employment, training or education.
- Provide a range of local information points and make best use of information technology (IT) so that there are opportunities for people of all ages to access good quality, independent and impartial advice on learning and employment opportunities.63
- The Careers Wales website can be accessed at http://www.careerswales.com/
14-19 guidance
The 'Learning Pathways 14-19 Guidance' was published in September 2004. This guidance is designed to help achieve the Government's goal that 95 per cent of young people, by age 25, will be ready for high skilled employment or higher education by 2015. 'Learning Pathways' aims to extend choice and flexibility for students, develop individually tailored learning pathways that meet learners' needs, and provide opportunities and experiences to help learners develop the wider skills they need for life and work. The guidance is available at http://www.learning.wales.gov.uk/pdfs/c3704-pathways-guidance-e.pdf. 192
The '14-19 Learning Pathways Action Plan' sets out a timetable for action between 2006 and 2010 to transform the education and training opportunities available to young people. A second edition of the 'Learning Pathways 14-19 Guidance' has also been published. This builds on the first edition: [Web Page]. 204
The Welsh Baccalaureate qualification
In autumn 2001, the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) announced the launch of a pilot programme for a new post-16 qualification in Wales - the Welsh Baccalaureate. The first student cohort in the pilot centres began their Welsh Baccalaureate curriculum programme in September 2003. Following an evaluation of the pilot, the Welsh Baccalaureate is being introduced nationally in a staged roll-out to schools from the 2007-08 school year. Further information is provided in the introduction to section 6.4 of this Archive and at the following url http://www.wbq.org.uk/.
National Languages Strategy for Wales
In April 2002, the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) introduced the National Languages Strategy for Wales. The strategy aims to improve the take-up and standard of foreign language learning, particularly for students beyond the age of 14 and 16; and increase the recognition by schools, students, parents and employers of the importance of foreign language learning and language skills. The principal measures introduced following the launch of the strategy include:
- The introduction of pilot projects for modern foreign language learning at Key Stage 2 (children aged 7 to 11).
- Ensuring that a range of languages is available in schools in Wales, along with support, advice, good practice examples, and specific in-service training for teachers, schools and local authorities wishing to review their foreign language provision.
- New guidance showing how modern foreign languages can be linked into the wider curriculum.
- Initiatives to promote the take-up of languages at Key Stage 4 (students aged 14 to 16 years of age). 163
School councils
The Welsh Assembly Government has passed the School Councils (Wales) Regulations 2005 which make it a statutory requirement for all government-funded primary and secondary schools to establish school councils. The councils enable students to discuss any matters relating to their education and make representations on these areas to the headteacher and governing body. The decision to make school councils statutory is part of the Welsh Assembly Government's broader aim to give children and young people a voice and to enable them to participate more actively in decisions which affect them. 202
Health promotion in schools
In 2006 the Welsh Assembly Government launched 'The Food and Fitness Implementation Plan' which aims to offer children and young people more opportunities to make decisions about eating well, staying fit and achieving the highest standard of health possible. Amongst the main objectives is the introduction, by 2010, of more stringent standards for school lunches, and for all food and drink consumed within the school day in all government funded schools. It is also intended to make more healthy food available in leisure centres, youth clubs, pre-school settings, hospitals and care homes. 216
In addition, in November 2007 the Welsh Assembly Government launched the 'Appetite for Life' Action Plan, which sets out the strategic direction and actions required to improve nutritional standards for food and drink in schools in Wales. It focuses on areas including:
- Introducing new food and drink standards.
- Supporting schools in developing a whole school approach to food and nutrition.
- Implementing strategies to support delivery of the plan at local and national level.
- Establishing monitoring and evaluation programmes. 230
