Commenting on the draft Curriculum for Wales 2022, published today (January 28), Shadow Minister for Education Suzy Davies AM/AC, said:
“Welsh Conservatives have long argued that we should let teachers teach, and some of the changes proposed in this draft document already have – in principle – our support.
“We will, of course, be looking for greater information on what scrutiny will look like in future accountability and measurability.”
Mrs Davies questioned, however, the implementation and deliverability of the proposed document, saying:
“We're having to wait 18 months or so for some key frameworks and guidance, not least on the more sensitive areas of the curriculum, such as education on faith and sex education lessons. That doesn't give practitioners time to get to grips with this before September 2022 when the new curriculum is to be implemented for the first time.
“Considering how much work has already gone into this, I might have expected more clarity on these sensitive issues by now.
“It’s also unclear as to how families and communities will be involved in developing the local curricula anticipated by these changes. That is significant work in view of the government’s insistence on abolishing the parental right to withdraw a child from particular lessons.
“Withdrawing a right even if it is the name of another right needs close examination. The government may be convinced but they need to make their case before they convince the rest of us. I look forward to the Assembly scrutinising this closely as it did with the smacking ban.
She said that she hopes to see a move away from sitting 13 or 14 GCSEs in order to prove a leaner’s ability, adding:
“Because there comes a point where you can be asked to do too much, and if we are to avoid teaching to the exam, we still will need to find a way for pupils to demonstrate their attainment across a broader curriculum.
“We will, of course, be looking for greater information on what the curriculum prompts for future accountability and measurability.”