Our education system has fundamentally changed.
I am yet to speak to a teacher who hasn’t told me the difference they are seeing since the pandemic.
Too many teachers tell me they are seeing challenging behaviour, worse attendance and lower levels of literacy and numeracy. We must not allow this to become the “new normal”.
This is not unique to Wales. Evidence across the UK, indeed across the world, shows the negative impact the pandemic has had on education. But areas with higher levels of deprivation have been impacted the worst - we in Wales know this.
The £500 million investment we made over the pandemic was designed specifically to support those most impacted. A recent evaluation showed the positive effect this investment had - but challenges remain.
Our school inspectorate, Estyn, has raised concerns about literacy and numeracy. This is echoed by teachers. Before the pandemic, Wales was making progress in these areas. I am concerned that the pandemic has undone these gains.
Since the temporary cancellation of exams, tracking literacy and numeracy levels has proven difficult. I have therefore decided that, for the first time, we will publish national data based on our national reading and numeracy assessments.
The figures will be published tomorrow. These are mandatory assessments for all learners in Years 2 to 9 and will provide valuable, transparent and easily understood information - a snapshot of the position across the country.
Literacy and numeracy are foundational elements of learning. There is nothing more important. The richness of our new Curriculum for Wales can best be accessed by those with good literacy and numeracy.
Updated reading toolkit
Reading is a national priority. In March we published our reading and oracy toolkit and now, to help schools support pupils further, I will publish an updated toolkit later this term to ensure clarity on the systematic and consistent teaching of phonics. This is the next step in the work we have undertaken over the last two years to raise reading standards.
Alongside this, promoting the importance of maths and a positive “can-do” mindset across schools, families and the wider community is crucial. To help achieve this, I will publish a mathematics and numeracy plan before the end of term.
We will support our excellent teaching staff through a national approach to professional learning for mathematics and numeracy. This will raise standards and provide every practitioner with the knowledge to support learners in applying their mathematical skills across the new Curriculum for Wales.
We should have unapologetically high expectations for all learners and they are entitled to have high expectations of us, which is why these steps are so important.
Post-pandemic school attendance
It is no wonder literacy and numeracy levels are being impacted if too many pupils are missing school.
In countries around the world, the pandemic has had a devastating impact on school attendance. Again, in disadvantaged areas, this problem is exacerbated. Schools can’t tackle this on their own, no matter how heroic their efforts.
We have invested heavily to support schools, such as funding for more family engagement officers, but a national effort is needed. So I have established a national task force to provide strategic direction and identify further practical actions to drive improvements in attendance and to re-engage our learners.
I know the pressure schools are under. Working with unions, we are making progress in tackling workload. Funding remains a real concern, which is why I am taking action to reduce the complexity of the grants we provide to increase flexibility and transparency.
Schools also tell us that our overall “middle tier” system is too complex. We are therefore undertaking a review of the future direction and roles and responsibilities of all education organisations - all so we can support schools better.
Help pupils reach potential
The effects of the pandemic aren’t over. The legacy of Covid coupled with the escalating cost-of-living crisis have placed our schools at the frontline of a crisis beyond education - through no fault of their own.
Rather than papering over the cracks, this government recognises the challenges facing our schools and we will use every lever we have to support them.
I started this job saying our national mission was to deliver high standards and aspirations for all, and to tackle the impact of poverty on attainment.
I am more determined than ever that this remains at the heart of all we do - a mission for each and every one of us to rise to the challenge and ensure every pupil, no matter their background or circumstances, can reach their full potential.
Jeremy Miles is Wales’ minister for education and Welsh language
