Wales’ brightest and most talented pupils are set to benefit from
£3 million of support over two years as part of plans announced
today by Education Secretary, .
In a statement to the National Assembly this afternoon the
Cabinet Secretary will set out three key principles to drive
improvements:
- Better
identification and support at school, regional and national
levels;
- Opportunities
that will inspire the highest levels of achievement; and
- The
development of evidence to support further investment and work.
The Cabinet Secretary announced the new funding and support on a
visit to Y Pant Comprehensive in Pontyclun. The school has worked
with NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education)
to achieve a NACE Challenge Award. This recognises school-wide
high quality provision for more able and talented learners.
The funding announced today will support a new national approach
for identifying and supporting more able learners, backed with
comprehensive new guidance. This will include a new definition
for more able learners, supporting schools in this work.
The Cabinet Secretary also announced that the successful Seren
Network, which supports Wales’ brightest sixth formers gain
access to leading universities, will be expanded to target
younger learners.
From September, the Network will begin targeting learners before
their GCSEs - connecting learners from different schools and
communities and building on Seren’s existing links with leading
global universities.
The £3 million investment will also include funding to further
develop the Welsh Government’s policy for more able and talented
learners, ensuring that any future measures are based on the most
reliable evidence.
said: “Further encouraging
a culture that supports high aspirations for all learners,
teachers and schools is crucial to the delivery of our national
mission for education.
“It is clear from PISA, previous Estyn reports, Sutton Trust and
UCL research that Wales must do more to identify, support and
stretch our more able learners.
“The investment I’m announcing today means that we will be able
to reach these learners at a much earlier stage, ensuring they
have the support and opportunities to reach their full potential.
“The Seren Network already makes a hugely positive contribution
to raising aspirations, boosting confidence and encouraging
post-16 students to be ambitious.
“Expanding the programme will help us to build that confidence in
our younger leaners and show them that there are opportunities
they may not yet be aware of.
“We have to look at this as a long-term investment; this is about
how we create the next generation of entrepreneurs, teachers,
scientists and public servants that will drive Wales’s future
prosperity and success.
“Getting it right for these learners, and those with the
potential to be these learners, therefore means getting it right
for everyone.”
