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Articles by Michael Dauncey
A route to a million Welsh speakers: the role of the classroom
The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 (‘the 2025 Act’) was passed unanimously by the Senedd in May 2025. It seeks to underpin Cymraeg 2050 by improving school pupils’ Welsh language skills. The previous Welsh Government’s aim, as reflected by the goals the 2025 Act sets for schools, was for all pupils to become at least ‘basic’ Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory education. The intention was to upgrade that minimum goal to ‘independent’ Welsh speakers in the future.
How did Wales perform in PISA 2025?
Wales’ educational performance in three core areas has deteriorated further in relation to the rest of the UK, as indicated by the results of an established international education programme. Wales’ scores are however, closer to the average of countries taking part, although this is predominantly a result of the international average going down. What is PISA?
Pupils behaving badly?
Pupil behaviour and discipline are currently receiving a lot of attention, including in the Senedd. This has been particularly so since a 14-year-old girl received a 15-year prison sentence for the in a Carmarthenshire school. Incidents of that scale are rare, although unions representing school staff have reported the growing problem of pupil behaviour, including aggression and violence. This mirrors similar concerns raised in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill: Summary of changes at Stage 2
The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill proposes changes to the way Welsh language education is planned and delivered, with an aim that all school pupils become independent Welsh language users by the time they reach the end of compulsory school age. The Bill is at Stage 3 of the Senedd’s legislative process. It was amended at Stage 2 by the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Committee in February. We’ve produced a summary of changes to the Bill at Stage 2.
What has Estyn said about the quality of education and training in Wales?
Estyn has said there is a mixed picture for education and training in Wales, with some strong practice but key areas in need of improvement. In his annual report, HM Chief Inspector (HMCI), Owen Evans, gives an overview of the quality of education provision based on inspections undertaken in academic year 2023/24. He also comments on some key themes.
Welsh Language and Education Bill: support for the principles but concerns over workforce capacity
Cymraeg 2050, the Welsh Government’s Welsh language strategy, aims to increase the number of Welsh speakers to one million, and double daily use of Welsh from 10% to 20% by 2050. The Welsh Government says the education system is “integral” to achieving this agenda. In July, the Welsh Government introduced the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill into the Senedd’s legislative process. The Bill proposes changes to how statutory Welsh language education provision is planned and delivered.
Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill: Bill Summary
Published 18/09/2024   |   Reading Time minutes The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill proposes changes to the way Welsh language education is planned and delivered, with an aim that all school pupils become independent Welsh language users by the time they reach the end of compulsory school age. The Bill aims to support the Welsh Government’s target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 (“Cymraeg 2050”), which it places on a statutory footing.
Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill: resources page
The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill was introduced into the Senedd on 15 July 2024. This page pulls together key Senedd Research publications to support scrutiny of the Bill. It will be updated as the Bill makes its way through the Senedd’s legislative process. You can follow the Bill’s progress on the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill webpage. This includes the Bill itself and the Explanatory Memorandum, which includes Explanatory Notes and a Regulatory Impact Assessment.
Scrutinising the new First Minister’s priorities
Published 26/04/2024   |   Reading Time minutes The Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister is holding a general scrutiny session on 26 April 2024 with the new First Minister, Vaughan Gething MS. We’ve produced a briefing setting out the pledges made by Vaughan Gething during the Welsh Labour leadership campaign, and commitments made since he became First Minister.
How did Wales perform in PISA 2022?
Published 05/12/2023   |   Reading Time minutes Wales’ scores in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) have fallen further behind the rest of the UK and the international average, as shown by results published earlier today. PISA evaluates countries’ education systems based on the performance of a sample of 15 year-olds in standard tests in Mathematics, Reading and Science.
The evolution of Welsh language education planning - Committee calls for a stronger and more consistent national approach
The framework that supports the development of Welsh language education provision needs strengthening, with robust monitoring of local authority progress to boot. This was one of the key findings from the Senedd’s Culture and Welsh Language Committee report on the legislative framework that supports Welsh-medium education provision.
How will qualifications change under the Curriculum for Wales?
Published 17/07/2024   |   Reading Time minutes Roll-out of the Curriculum for Wales is well underway. It began in September 2022 and extends to Year 9 this September. This means the first learners studying for qualifications under the new curriculum will be those who start Year 10 in September 2025 and complete Year 11 in June 2027.
Ensuring a suitable education for all: The relationship between family and state
The Welsh Government has recently set out some of the changes it believes will ensure all children receive a suitable education and support home educating families. The aim is to better equip local authorities to meet their legal duty to identify, as far as possible, children who aren’t registered at a school and not receiving a suitable education elsewhere.
Government decides more time needed to make Additional Learning Needs changes
We wrote last year about the “tough task of implementation” facing the education sector in delivering the new Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system, which was established by legislation passed in the last Senedd. Last month, the Welsh Government changed the timescale of implementation so these changes will now take place over four years (September 2021 to August 2025) rather than three (September 2021 to August 2024).
Estyn: schools have “coped well” but things aren’t “back to normal” yet
The latest annual report from the education inspectorate, Estyn, suggests that, while schools have generally done well in supporting children and young people’s recovery, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cast a dark shadow over their progress. The Senedd will debate this on Tuesday, as well as hearing from the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, on the Welsh Government’s next steps in its ‘national mission’ to achieve “high standards and aspirations for all”.
Reading between the lines: Welsh children’s literacy skills
Published 12/11/2021   |   Reading Time minutes On Tuesday (16 November), the Minister for Education and Welsh Language will make a statement in the Senedd on “Children’s Oracy and Reading”. This article discusses concerns about very young children’s speech and language development and progress against the Welsh Government’s long-standing priority of improving literacy skills amongst older pupils.
Reforming education: the Welsh Government’s mission to improve standards and tackle inequalities
This is the sixth article of our ten-part series looking at the Welsh Government’s progress in delivering its Programme for Government (PfG). Here we explore the well-being objective to “Continue our long-term programme of education reform, and ensure educational inequalities narrow and standards rise”. There are 10 specific commitments beneath this broad Cabinet-wide objective, which the Welsh Government has given an update on in its PfG annual report.
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