More support to press on with curriculum reform

Jeremy Miles today confirmed he is to provide additional support for schools to enable the momentum behind the introduction of our new Curriculum for Wales to continue and to rollout in primary schools and non-maintained nursery settings from September 2022.

Recognising specific challenges faced by secondary schools, including managing a new system of assessment and supporting qualifications during the pandemic, the Minister announced that secondary schools would have the option to continue with their existing plans to start in 2022 with Year 7 or start in 2023 with Years 7 and 8 together.

Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, also confirmed:

• The establishment of a National Network – a practioner-led body, open to all schools, that will support implementation of the new curriculum,
• £7.24m for schools to support their curriculum reform plans, including engagement with the National Network,
• The removal of the requirement to undertake end of foundation phase and end of key stage assessments, in the 2021-2022 academic year, for year groups that will be transitioning to the new curriculum in September 2022.
• An update of the ‘Curriculum for Wales: The journey to 2022’ document, recognising the current context and the different points many will be starting from. It will provide a comprehensive one-stop-shop for schools and settings. 

Jeremy Miles said,

“My priority is to put learners’ well-being and progression at the heart of everything we do. Curriculum for Wales provides a once in a generation chance to revolutionise the quality of opportunity for our children and young people and I am determined we do not miss that chance.

“Through my discussions with the sector, it’s clear to me that there remains a strong desire for reform. I am determined that the emphasis on wellbeing and flexibility shown over the last year is built upon and closely aligned with the introduction of our new curriculum. I am therefore confirming today that the Curriculum for Wales will continue to be implemented in primary schools, maintained nursery schools, and non-maintained nursery settings from September 2022. 

“I recognise that secondary schools have faced specific challenges such as managing qualifications, which, in some instances, have affected their readiness for curriculum delivery. I understand these concerns, and have taken the decision to provide some additional flexibility for schools where they judge that they need it. In 2022, schools which are ready to rollout the curriculum to Year 7 may do so, but this will not be mandatory until 2023, with rollout to Years 7 and 8 together.

“I would encourage secondary schools who are able to implement their new curricula in Year 7 from 2022 to move forward with their plans, supported by their regional consortia. Estyn’s recently published “What We Inspect” framework will enable this flexibility for providers and Estyn will be encouraging progress along the curriculum reform journey for secondary schools.

“The reform of qualifications will play a fundamental role in the success of our curriculum. The exciting ambition behind our curriculum must be matched by our qualifications system. The flexibility for secondary schools in 2022 will provide space for the sector to work closely with Qualifications Wales over the coming year to co-construct a high-quality set of qualifications which are aligned with the philosophies of the new curriculum, and to capitalise on emerging opportunities around assessment methods.”

Beyond 2023, roll out of the Curriculum for Wales will follow on a year by year basis, and the first qualifications designed specifically for Curriculum for Wales will be awarded in the 2026-27 academic year as planned. 

The new Curriculum for Wales has been developed by practitioners through a network of schools, who worked in partnership with Welsh Government, regional consortia, Estyn, Qualifications Wales and a range of key stakeholders and experts to develop guidance, published in January 2020.

Rhagor o gymorth i fwrw ymlaen â diwygio’r cwricwlwm

Cadarnhaodd Jeremy Miles heddiw y bydd yn rhoi cymorth ychwanegol i ysgolion er mwyn ei gwneud yn bosibl i fomentwm y gwaith o gyflwyno ein Cwricwlwm newydd i Gymru barhau ac iddo gael ei roi ar waith yn raddol o fis Medi 2022 ymlaen mewn ysgolion cynradd a lleoliadau meithrin nas cynhelir.

Gan gydnabod yr heriau penodol a wynebir gan ysgolion uwchradd, yn cynnwys rheoli system newydd ar gyfer asesu a chefnogi cymwysterau yn ystod y pandemig, cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog y byddai ysgolion uwchradd yn cael dewis parhau â’u cynlluniau presennol i ddechrau yn 2022 gyda Blwyddyn 7 neu i ddechrau yn 2023 gyda Blynyddoedd 7 ac 8 gyda’i gilydd.

Cadarnhaodd Jeremy Miles, Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg y cynlluniau canlynol:

• Sefydlu Rhwydwaith Cenedlaethol – corff a arweinir gan ymarferwyr, sy’n agored i bob ysgol, a fydd yn cefnogi rhoi’r cwricwlwm newydd ar waith,
• Rhoi £7.24 miliwn i ysgolion i gefnogi eu cynlluniau ar gyfer diwygio’r cwricwlwm, gan gynnwys ymgysylltu â’r Rhwydwaith Cenedlaethol,
• Dileu’r gofyniad i gynnal asesiadau ar ddiwedd y cyfnod sylfaen a diwedd cyfnodau allweddol ym mlwyddyn academaidd 2021-2022, ar gyfer grwpiau blwyddyn a fydd yn trosglwyddo i’r cwricwlwm newydd ym mis Medi 2022.
• Diweddaru’r ddogfen ‘Cwricwlwm i Gymru: Y daith hyd at 2022’, gan gydnabod y cyd-destun presennol a’r gwahanol fannau cychwyn a fydd gan lawer. Bydd yn darparu siop un stop gynhwysfawr ar gyfer ysgolion a lleoliadau.

Dywedodd Jeremy Miles,

“Fy mlaenoriaeth yw rhoi lles a chynnydd dysgwyr wrth wraidd popeth a wnawn. Mae Cwricwlwm i Gymru yn gyfle unwaith mewn cenhedlaeth i chwyldroi safon y cyfleoedd i’n plant a’n pobl ifanc ac rwy’n benderfynol nad ydym am golli’r cyfle hwnnw.

“Mae fy nhrafodaethau â’r sector wedi’i gwneud yn amlwg i mi bod awydd cryf o hyd am ddiwygio. Rwy’n benderfynol ein bod yn adeiladu ar y pwyslais ar les a hyblygrwydd a ddangoswyd dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf a bod hynny’n cyd-fynd yn agos â chyflwyno ein cwricwlwm newydd. Rwy’n cadarnhau heddiw felly y bydd Cwricwlwm Cymru yn parhau i gael ei roi ar waith mewn ysgolion cynradd, ysgolion meithrin a gynhelir, a lleoliadau meithrin nas cynhelir o fis Medi 2022 ymlaen. 

“Rwy’n cydnabod bod ysgolion uwchradd wedi wynebu heriau penodol fel rheoli cymwysterau, sydd, mewn rhai achosion, wedi effeithio ar eu parodrwydd ar gyfer cyflwyno’r cwricwlwm. Rwy’n deall y pryderon hyn, ac wedi penderfynu darparu hyblygrwydd ychwanegol i ysgolion lle maent yn barnu bod arnynt ei angen. Yn 2022, gall ysgolion sy’n barod i gyflwyno’r cwricwlwm i Flwyddyn 7 wneud hynny, ond ni fydd hyn yn orfodol tan 2023, pryd y gellid ei gyflwyno i Flynyddoedd 7 ac 8 gyda’i gilydd.

“Byddwn yn annog ysgolion uwchradd sy’n gallu rhoi eu cwricwla newydd ar waith ym Mlwyddyn 7 o 2022  i symud ymlaen gyda’u cynlluniau, gyda chefnogaeth eu consortia rhanbarthol. Bydd y fframwaith “Beth rydym yn ei Arolygu”, a gyhoeddwyd gan Estyn yn ddiweddar, yn gwneud yr hyblygrwydd hwn yn bosibl i ddarparwyr a bydd Estyn yn annog cynnydd ar hyd taith diwygio’r cwricwlwm ar gyfer ysgolion uwchradd.

“Bydd diwygio cymwysterau yn chwarae rhan sylfaenol yn llwyddiant ein cwricwlwm. Rhaid i’n system gymwysterau gyd-fynd â’r uchelgais gyffrous y tu ôl i’n cwricwlwm. Bydd yr hyblygrwydd i ysgolion uwchradd yn 2022 yn rhoi cyfle i’r sector weithio’n agos gyda Chymwysterau Cymru dros y flwyddyn i ddod i gyd-lunio set o gymwysterau o ansawdd uchel sy’n cyd-fynd ag athroniaethau’r cwricwlwm newydd, ac i fanteisio ar gyfleoedd sy’n dod i’r amlwg wrth ystyried dulliau asesu.”

Y tu hwnt i 2023, bydd cyflwyno Cwricwlwm Cymru yn dilyn o flwyddyn i flwyddyn, a dyfernir y cymwysterau cyntaf a gynlluniwyd yn benodol ar gyfer y Cwricwlwm i Gymru ym mlwyddyn academaidd 2026-27, yn ôl y bwriad.