The Education Minister of Wales, Lynne Neagle, has reiterated her dedication to enhancing school attainment levels. She emphasized the importance of improving literacy, numeracy, and attendance while addressing the persistent achievement gap between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Neagle highlighted the ongoing support for the new curriculum and the Pupil Development Grant, aimed at narrowing the attainment divide among students.
With the extension of free school meals to all primary pupils starting this September, Neagle stressed the need to monitor the progress of children previously eligible for free meals. Emphasising her top priority of raising attainment and standards, Neagle announced additional support for schools implementing the new curriculum and plans to address the Senedd in the autumn regarding these initiatives.
Attendance was highlighted as a crucial factor in raising standards, with Neagle focusing on the efforts of family engagement officers to improve attendance rates. Reflecting on the challenges posed by the pandemic, Neagle commended the dedication and resilience of students, especially those who recently received their GCSE results, acknowledging the impact of Covid-19 disruptions on their education.
Amid the changes brought about by the pandemic, Neagle applauded the commitment of teachers and the education workforce in supporting students to succeed. Neagle’s visit to Pencoed Comprehensive School in Bridgend underscored the collective efforts to navigate the challenges faced during the pandemic and strive for educational excellence.