Appointment to the Education Workforce Council

23 Nov 2017 11:02 AM

Kirsty Williams, Cabinet Secretary for Education, announced Clare Jones’ appointment to the Education Workforce Council (EWC). This appointment will run from 13 November 2017 to 31 March 2019.

The EWC was formed in April 2015, following the introduction of the Education (Wales) Act 2014. The EWC are responsible for:

• establishing and maintaining a Register of school teachers, Further Education (FE) teachers, school and FE learning support workers, youth workers, youth support workers and work based learning practitioners
• reviewing and revising the Code of Professional Conduct & Practice
• investigating and hearing cases involving the fitness to practise of registered persons
• on request, advising Welsh Ministers and others on a range of professional matters including standards of conduct and practice; professional roles and standing; training, career development and performance management; recruitment, retention and supply related to registered education practitioners
• accredit courses or programmes of initial school teacher education (ITE)
• monitor the compliance of accredited courses or programmes of ITE with Welsh Government published criteria
• withdrawing the accreditation of courses or programmes of ITE.

The Education Workforce Council (Appointments and Membership) (Wales) Regulations 2014 provides for membership of the EWC is to consist of not less than 14 members. Seven members would be directly appointed by Welsh Ministers and seven members would be appointed by Welsh Ministers having being nominated by organisations listed in the Schedule of the 2014 Regulations.

This post is not remunerated and members of the ECW are not paid, however, they are reimbursed for reasonable travel and subsistence costs.  Members have a typical time commitment of 10-12 days per year.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education said:

“I am pleased that Mrs Jones has agreed to work on the EWC; I am sure she will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as Council member.”

These appointments were made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published.

This individual had carried out political activities in the last five years that relates to canvassing on behalf of the Labour party.