WIREDGOV

Education Minister, Huw Lewis, is calling on teachers, pupils, parents and businesses to get involved in a ‘Great Debate’ on the curriculum that will shape Wales’ future school system.

The call follows the publication last week of  Professor Donaldson’s  ‘Successful Futures’ report which set out 68 different recommendations for a new Welsh curriculum.

Professor Donaldson produced his report after his comprehensive, wide ranging and independent review of the National Curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales and after a national and international evidence-gathering exercise which included over 700 responses from young people, practitioners, parents and businesses.

He was commissioned to undertake the review in 2014 by Education Minister, Huw Lewis.

The Welsh Government is now asking teachers, parents, pupils and businesses to consider the recommendations set out in the report and to engage in its ‘Great Debate’.

The Education Minister said:

“The proposals set out in the ‘Successful Futures’ report are by far the most exciting and thought provoking set of proposals for Welsh education for a generation and they deserve our attention.

“We know the world our learners access when they leave school is changing faster than ever and we need to be sure we are preparing them with the right skills for work and for life and that we are giving them the best possible start in life.

“Change on this scale needs time and consideration and I am keen to find out if teachers, parents, pupils and businesses think the suggested vision and purposes of education set out in the report are right for our children and young people.

“Ongoing participation in this debate will be critical to shaping our future curriculum and assessment arrangements so I would urge anyone with an interest to get involved and help to build our new school system. ”

The Welsh Government is launching a range of resources to facilitate ‘The Great Debate’. These include a power point presentation, a 10 page summary document of the Successful Futures report, film clips, questions for teachers to respond to and slightly different questions for children, young people, parents and businesses.

People can join  the debate by attending one of the public events or by accessing the Great Debate online resources on the Welsh Government’s website.

The first phase of the Great Debate will run from 4 March until the 8 May and will be followed by a formal statement in the summer once views have been considered.

Further phases of the Great Debate will be planned as the process develops.