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On Monday 12 December the
Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language issued a Written Ministerial
Statement announcing the introduction of an ambitious law to create a bold new
approach to supporting learners with additional learning needs (ALN). If
passed, the Additional Learning Needs and Educational Tribunal (Wales) Bill
will completely overhaul the system for supporting pupils with ALN, affecting
nearly every classroom in Wales.
Dates for your diary: Additional Learning Needs regional events
More details in the New Year.
- Carmarthen - 28 February 2017
- Newport - 2 March 2017
- Llandudno - 7 March 2017
- Cardiff - 9 March 2017
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Qualifications are changing
GCSEs, AS and A levels in Wales, England and Northern Ireland are changing. The regulators of these qualifications in each jurisdiction are overseeing the changes and have issued a joint statement and infographic for you to print and keep.
In future there will be differences in most subjects between jurisdictions. Some of these will be immediately noticeable, such as the grading scales used for GCSEs or the relationship between AS and A levels.
From September 2017, GCSE Welsh Second Language is
changing. Qualifications Wales, Welsh Government, WJEC, Estyn and the
Regional Education Consortia have produced a joint information page to inform
pupils, teachers, school leaders, parents and others to better understand the
implications for them and to prepare for this change. Please follow the above link to understand more about the specific changes that are taking place,
the key features of the new GCSE, the support available for teachers preparing
to teach the new qualification
and the potential impact on schools.
Qualifications Wales is hosting a series of free regional meetings to support the implementation of the reformed Welsh Second Language GCSE in September 2017. These meetings offer subject teachers and school leaders a chance to discuss the changes to the subject with representatives from Welsh Government, WJEC, the Regional Consortia and Qualifications Wales.
Qualifications
Wales has written to all schools and colleges in Wales to update them on the
last set of changes to GCSEs and A levels.
The letter
gives a progress update on the new GCSEs and A levels being reformed for
September 2017. It also gives an overview of all GCSE and A level subjects that
will be available to schools in Wales from 2017 onwards.
Global futures – a year into our plan was published this week and shows the progress made to date under Global Futures to promote languages, raise attainment and increase uptake of languages in Wales. One of the key achievements is the signing of an education memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Wales and Spain, which aims to promote and improve the teaching and learning of Spanish in Wales.
Published by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children on 14 December, the Financial Inclusion Delivery Plan sets out how the Welsh Government will work with partner organisations – both in Wales and at a UK level – to move to a more financially included society in Wales. Read more. The Financial Inclusion Strategy.
The priorities are set out in the context of the Skills Agenda of i.e. jobs and growth, financial sustainability, equality and equity and International skills benchmarking. Consolidating the identified themes will provide a framework to develop future strategies and operational plans.
Presentations are also available to download via Learning Wales.
Key features covered include security controls available within HwbCloud
(HwbMail, HwbSites and HwbDrive).
Book your place now!
Deadline for submissions is 15 March
2017
The new PA Raspberry Pi competition challenges
teams of children and young people to invent under the theme of ‘Innovation for
All’. The first 100 teams to enter will receive a free Raspberry Pi
computer starter pack to help with their innovation projects. Applications in either English or Welsh are welcomed and resources are
available in both languages.
We
are now recruiting two members to the Qualifications Wales Board. . Closing
date for applications is 20 January 2017.
Education data expert FFT Education are running a series of
complimentary two-hour sessions across Wales to bring school leadership teams and
governing bodies up to speed with the latest Fischer Family Trust Key Stage 4
data found in FFT Aspire.
The Centre for Alternative Technology has grants available to schools & colleges in North Wales covering free tuition and entry costs for STEM visits. The offer is open to pupils age 11-18.
Please contact Gabrielle
Ashton on 01654 705984 to book your FREE STEM
visit at CAT.
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