Welsh Government: What's It All About?

Welsh Government: What’s it all about? Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

Acknowledgements

This resource was written and edited by: Rhiannon Jenkins, Educational Consultant to the Welsh Government Dr Elin Jones, Educational Consultant to the Welsh Government Marjorie Page, Educational Consultant to the Welsh Government

This project was managed by the Welsh Government Communications Division.

A special thanks to teachers involved in trialling and commenting on draft resource: Julia James, Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi, Ceredigion Mared Llwyd, Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth, Ceredigion Lowri Owen, Ysgol Llangelynnin, Conwy and the School Workload Advisory Panel

Teachers’ Feedback The pack has had a fantastic response. The activities are colourful and modern, and the games were a big draw.

Julia James, Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi, Ceredigion

We have thoroughly enjoyed the task ‘Using Government money’. The pupils were able to discuss and express opinions extremely effectively. Also, an effective task in terms of appreciating the importance of each department of the Welsh Government. It’s a very good idea to use the pack as a way of bridging KS2/KS3. I will certainly be making further use of this topical resource.

Lowri Owen, Ysgol Llangelynnin, Conwy

The teacher notes at the beginning, and additional resources and a glossary of terms at the end was great and very helpful in explaining the background / context some of the tasks, and the introduction of additional information. The activities are also particularly well in providing opportunities to develop the children’s key skills (communication, thinking, number and ICT). The children had great enjoyment of the activities and certainly it is a package that I would recommend for older children in Key Stage 2 and especially Year 6. Mared Llwyd, Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth, Ceredigion Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

Contents

Introduction for teachers: About this pack ...... 4

Activity 1 What does the Welsh Government do? And who does what? ...... 11

Activity 2 Pen Portraits ...... 16

Activity 3 Arranging a visit ...... 17

Activity 4 Providing information ...... 19

Activity 5 Using government money ...... 21

Activity 6 Policies made in Wales for the people of Wales ...... 40

Activity 7 The role of the Welsh Government ...... 41

Activity 8 Decisions, Decisions! ...... 42

Activity 9 The Welsh Government and me ...... 44

Activity 10 Evaluation ...... 51

Glossary of terms ...... 54

Useful websites ...... 57

Additional Resources ...... 58

Introduction for teachers: About this pack

What is it for?

The Welsh Government’s Education Pack is designed to introduce learners to the work of the Welsh Government, to explain the relationship between the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales and to highlight the government’s relevance to daily life in Wales. The aim of the pack is to provide teachers with classroom resources to help them teach young people about democracy in Wales, linking with the skills that underpin the National Curriculum in Wales and the requirements of the Personal and Social Education (PSE) Framework with regard to political literacy. These resources might be used: • as stand-alone classroom activities linked to work on democracy and active citizenship in Wales • as part of a bridging programme between a primary school and its partner secondary school (Activity 8) and/or • before, after or during a visit to one of the Welsh Government’s offices.

The newest of these are located in Aberystwyth and Llandudno Junction, and were built to meet the Welsh Government’s commitment to press ahead with the relocation of civil servants across the country and improve our engagement with communities across Wales. The Welsh Government aims to bring the full breadth of government services closer to the people of Wales.

Who is it for?

Because of the nature of the content and the complexity of some of the concepts involved, the resources are most relevant to learners in Key Stages 3 and 4. They may, however, be used with learners in Years 5 and 6 where appropriate and could also be adapted for candidates for the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification.

The resources aim to produce a variety of outcomes – including group discussion leading to an agreed plan, problem solving, questioning, research and the presentation of findings in a range of media – all leading to an enhanced appreciation of the achievements of the Welsh Government and its role in the daily life of Wales.

3 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

What skills, knowledge and understanding will it help to develop in learners?

In carrying out these activities, learners will be helped to develop the skills of: • oracy, reading, writing and wider communication • numeracy • thinking through planning, developing ideas and reflecting on what they have done • ICT

as well as the wider key skills of working with others, improving their own performance and problem solving.

Their work will also help them to develop some aspects of the knowledge and understanding required by one of the themes of the PSE Framework, Active Citizenship, as well as the political ‘literacy’ defined in the Guidance to the PSE Framework (available on the Welsh Government website – see website list at end of pack). This includes the following statements: • Political literacy is about helping young people become politically aware and effective. • For young people political literacy involves: - knowing how decisions are made in society – locally, nationally and internationally

Both of these depend to a great extent on a learner’s understanding of the make-up and role of the Welsh Government and this pack will enhance learners’ understanding of this.

The pack will also make a major contribution to coverage of The Cwricwlwm Cymreig (7–14) and Wales, Europe and the World (14–19), statutory requirements of the National Curriculum in Wales.

It is essential that both partners, primary and secondary, play a part in Activity 8 if it is to achieve its purpose.

It would be helpful if, in Activity 4, an existing link school was chosen so that the correspondence could actually take place.

4 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

What is the relationship between the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government?

The postcard, The difference between us and the National Assembly for Wales, explains briefly that these are two distinct organisations.

The Welsh Government: • is the devolved government for Wales; • consists of the First Minister, the Welsh Ministers, the Deputy Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General (the chief legal adviser to the Welsh Government); • meets in Cabinet (with the Counsel General attending as he is in charge of the Legislative Programme); • is supported by the Civil Service which works across Wales to implement government policy; • develops policies and proposes laws which, if passed by the National Assembly for Wales, will become laws for Wales; since the referendum in 2011, there is no need to seek permission from the UK parliament before laws are made on subjects for which the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government are responsible. • implements policies in the areas for which it is responsible; and • is responsible for relationships with the rest of the United Kingdom, Europe and Wales Abroad.

The National Assembly for Wales: • consists of 60 elected Assembly Members; these are elected democratically at elections that take place across Wales every 4 years • scrutinises and approves the Welsh Government’s budget proposals; • represents the interests of the people of Wales • debates issues, questions Ministers and holds the government to account; • passes laws for Wales; • carries out its work in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay; and • is similar to the UK Parliament in Westminster.

5 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

The Welsh Government National Assembly for Wales (the Assembly)

The First Minister is nominated by the 60 elected Assembly Members (AMs) Assembly and subsequently appointed comprise the National Assembly for Wales by Her Majesty the Queen. (‘the Assembly’).

First Minister appoints Ministers and Deputy AMs nominate the First Minister. Ministers with the Queen’s approval. The Counsel General is nominated by the First Minister, whose recommendation must be endorsed by the Assembly, before being approved by Her Majesty the Queen. The First Minister and the Welsh Ministers with responsibility for government departments form the Cabinet.

The Welsh Government proposes budgets, AMs scrutinise government proposals develops and implements policies. and actions. They question Ministers about issues. AMs scrutinise and approve the Welsh Assembly Government’s budget proposals.

The Welsh Government proposes laws. AMs debate the government’s proposals, reflecting their own and their constituents’ views. AMs vote on issues.

If the National Assembly for Wales passes The National Assembly for Wales is able a law, the Welsh Government implements to pass Welsh laws in relation to the policy the policy. areas for which the Welsh Government has responsibility.

6 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

Diagram 1

The process for electing a government in Wales.

Political parties produce manifestos and campaign across Wales

Election takes place

Political party with most Assembly Members forms the government. This is called a majority government.

If no overall majority, parties combine to form a coalition government

A minority government in which the party with the largest number of seats forms a government although it does not have an absolute majority over all the other parties together.

7 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

What does the pack include?

The pack includes: • An introduction for teachers outlining the purpose and content of the pack; • Ten easy to follow activities written for an audience of learners; • Flexible activities to allow for differentiation by outcome and extension work where required; • An explanation for teachers of the relationship between the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales; • A series of interesting facts about the Welsh Government; • A glossary of terms; • Relevant web links • Postcards

PDF versions of all the resources will be available online so that any developments or changes – e.g. to Ministerial titles, departments etc. – can be uploaded immediately to the teacher resource area linked to the resource pack on the Welsh Government website. Teachers may download and print/laminate relevant resources for the chosen activity. The pack also contains a series of eight postcards entitled ‘What’s it all about?’. The activities in the education pack are designed to complement and extend the information provided by these cards.

The pack includes information about the: • Structure of the Welsh Government and the Cabinet; • Role of the Government, • Welsh Government’s responsibilities and achievements; • and its relationship with the National Assembly of Wales

Teachers should choose which activities are most suitable for their classes. They might wish the class to focus on one or two particular activities only, to ask different groups within the class to carry out one or more different activities or to use the pack as a whole with a class over a period of time.

8 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

Activities ? ? ?

9 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

What does the Welsh Government do? ACTIVITY 1 And who does what? The resources for this game can be found in the teacher resource area of the website. Teachers may download the resources in order to play the game in the classroom.

You will need:

• Diagram 1: To show simplified structure of the Welsh Government, with blanks for First Minister, Welsh Ministers with responsibility for government departments, Counsel General, Civil Servants. • Cards with names and/or cartoon figures representing the various people involved • Captions giving brief account of their responsibilities e.g. ‘I am the leader of the government because my party has the most seats in the Senedd’; ‘I am the Minister whose job is to decide on how we can make things better for everyone in schools.’; ‘We are the Cabinet. Together we agree on how to make policies’; ‘We are the Civil Servants in the Department of Environment and Sustainable Development. We work to carry out the Minister’s policies’ etc.

At the end of the activity, when you have filled in all the blanks: • Diagram 2: Completed diagram, with all blanks correctly allocated.

What are you going to do?

Working in groups, try to put the people and their jobs in the right places on the diagram. Did you know? One of you should record why you made your Currently, the Ministerial Portfolio with choices. When you have filled in as many the biggest budget is Health and Social blanks as you can, exchange your diagram Services with an annual budget of with another group, and check it against the approximately £6 billion to spend on completed diagram. the National Health Service in Wales, Discuss which ones you got right, and why. public health services and social services. Did you all have the same reasons for the same decisions? Which reasons did most Did you know? people put down? Why are some reasons better than others? Welsh Government civil servants are based across the world in order to promote What will be the end result? Wales across the world and attract inward investment and jobs to Wales. A completed diagram to be used for reference when doing next activity.

10 Rt. Hon. Carwyn Jones Gwenda Thomas Jeff Cuthbert Alun Davies Ken Skates AM AM AM AM AM

Carl Sargeant Huw Lewis John Griffiths Jane Hutt Mark Drakeford AM AM AM AM AM

Edwina Hart Vaughan Gething Lesley Griffiths Theodore Huckle MBE OStJ AM AM AM QC

I am the Minister with I am leader of I am the Minister I am the Minister responsibility for the government whose job it is to responsible for improving the care because my party decide how we make promoting Welsh received by patients has the most seats things better for heritage, culture in hospitals and in the Senedd. everyone in schools. and sport. doctors’ surgeries.

I am the Deputy I am the Minister Minister responsible I am invited to I am the Minister whose job it is to for the wellbeing Cabinet meetings by responsible for ensure communities and happiness of the First Minister to supporting business thrive. children and young provide legal advice and the economy. people in Wales.

I am the Deputy I am the Minister I am the I am the Minister Minister whose job responsible for providing for responsible for Deputy Minister it is to ensure Welsh affordable housing, ensuring the Welsh responsible for the businesses get the revitalising deprived Government spends environmentand skilled workforce areas. its money wisely. agriculture. they need to thrive. First Minister The First Minister Minister for Local for Wales Government and Government Business

and Food and Skills Minister for Minister Natural Resources Natural Minister for Health Health for Minister and Social Services Minister for Finance for Minister Minister for Education Education for Minister Deputy Minister for Minister for Communities Minister for Culture Social Services and Tackling Poverty and Sport

for Wales for Minister for Minister and Transport and Technology and Regeneration Counsel General Counsel Economy, Science Economy, Minister for Housing for Minister Deputy Minister for Skills for Deputy Minister Welsh Government: What’s it all about? ACTIVITY 2 Pen portraits

What are you going to do?

Look at the following list of people who make up the government:

First Minister of Wales Counsel General for Wales Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Deputy Minister for Social Services Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister for Culture and Sport Minister for Economy, Science and Transport Minister for Education and Skills Minister for Finance Minister for Health and Social Services Minister for Housing and Regeneration Minister for Natural Resources and Food Minister for Local Government and Government Business

Work in groups of 4 or 5. Your teacher will allocate people from this list for you to research. Decide who Did you know? does what within your group, e.g. organising the Rhodri Morgan was First Minister group’s activities, focusing on one person only; for Wales for almost ten years - making notes; producing the final pen portrait. from February 2000 to December Using information from the Welsh Government’s 2009 when he retired. website and other online resources, find out all you can about the person you are researching – e.g. name, photograph, biographical details, particular interests etc. Did you know? Make notes and prepare a pen portrait of that person. In 1999, the First Minister was Present each pen portrait to your group and edit called the First Secretary for it in the light of their questions and comments. Wales. This was the Right Hon. Alun Michael. In 2000, the Cabinet What will be the end result? adopted the term ‘Minister’ instead of ‘Secretary’. Present each group’s pen portraits to the whole class. Make a display using the finished pen portraits. Did you know?

Did you know? The First Minister is nominated by the National Assembly for Carwyn Jones became First Minister of Wales and then appointed by Wales on 9 December 2009. Her Majesty the Queen.

15 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

ACTIVITY 3 Arranging a visit

A key Welsh Government commitment has been to bring government services closer to the people of Wales rather than have everything happening in Cardiff. This was called a location strategy and it means that civil servants work in offices across Fact Wales, implementing the Welsh Government’s initiatives, making it one of Wales’ most important employers.

What are you going to do?

Your class has been asked to arrange a visit for • your own class or • a group of foreign students or • a class of fellow pupils to the Welsh Government offices.

Arrange this trip. The main offices that welcome school visits are Aberystwyth and Llandudno Junction.

Work in groups, as appropriate, to discuss and decide: • which office you are going to visit and why • what are the key issues you would like to discuss within the various portfolio areas. What questions would you like to ask? • who you need to contact. e.g. Welsh Government communications officer • how you will divide your time – a discussion with staff at the location of your choice could be helpful before planning your visit • who will be your spokesperson during the visit. Will it be one class member or will you share this task? How will you choose your spokesperson?

You can also find useful information from the other activities in this pack. This will help you to make your decisions.

What will be the end product of this activity?

At the end of the activity, the groups in your class should have shared their findings and decisions and agreed a detailed timetable/agenda to present the timing, date and content of the proposed visit.

Alternatively, each group within the class could present its choice and the class could vote between the presentations to choose a favourite.

16 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

Note to teachers: It would be best if this activity could have a real purpose so that the planned visit actually takes place but the activity has intrinsic value even if this is not possible.

There are several opportunities to engage in activities that will develop learners’ understanding of decision-making processes and of the principles of participation and representation.

The content of the discussions etc. can be differentiated to meet the needs, interests and abilities of the class involved.

Did you know?

Welsh Government work is carried out in properties across Wales

Did you know?

The Llandudno Junction office is the greenest Welsh Government office. It has a biomass boiler which burns wood pellets.

Did you know?

During the Open Day held at the Aberystwyth office over 2,000 members of the public visited to find out more.

17 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

ACTIVITY 4 Providing information

A school in another country has contacted your school. They want to know more about the Welsh Government. Here is what they have said:

In our school in ……. we are finding out about governments in different countries. We would like to know how Wales is governed, because we have found out that your Welsh Government has only been there since 1999. Can you please tell us how your government works?

We would especially like you to explain to us the meaning of the following words:

First Minister Minister

Coalition Government Cabinet

Policy Assembly Acts

Counsel General Civil Servants

Budget Devolved Responsibilities

Ministerial Portfolio

If you could send us a diagram to show how your Government works, that would be very helpful.

What are you going to do?

Work in pairs or small groups.

Look carefully at the letter and decide whether you can answer all its questions. Are there any questions you can’t answer? How could you find the information you need to answer those questions? Can you design a clear diagram?

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What will be the end result?

Write an answer to the school, making sure your explanations are clear and really do answer the questions asked. Provide a diagram if possible. In your letter, ask your own questions about the government of the country in which the school is located.

Using what you have found out, design a quiz based on the Welsh Government. This can be intended for pupils in your own school, for younger learners or for a partner school.

Did you know?

Ministerial posts and titles change. This may happen when a Minister resigns or a new government is formed following an election.

Did you know?

The Counsel General is the newest senior post in the Welsh Government, dating from July 2007.

Policy Did you know?

The oldest Civil Service in the world is in China and dates from about 200 B.C.

19 Welsh Government: What’s it all about?

ACTIVITY 5 Using Government money

The previous three activities have told you about the work of the Welsh Government and the people who are involved. It is now your turn to act as if you were a Cabinet Minister and to decide where money is best spent for the good of the people of Wales.

What are you going to do?

Work in groups of 4 – 6 for about 20 minutes.

Imagine you have a million pounds to allocate. In your groups, you must decide what your priorities are and where the money should be spent. To help you, look carefully at the ‘portfolio’ cards that show what the various Ministerial portfolios represent and decide what most deserves financial support. Look also at the ‘money’ cards that have amounts varying between £5000 and £250,000 and discuss how the money should be allocated. You need to agree on your priorities and be able to explain the reasons for your decisions.

Decide who will be the spokespeople for your group and present your decisions to the rest of the class. Explain why you did or did not fund some activities.

As a class, discuss the decisions made by each group and, if possible, come to an overall agreed plan for spending the one million pounds.

What will be the end result?

You will have gained some understanding of the Did you know? issues involved in deciding how to allocate the Welsh The Welsh Government receives Government’s budget. an annual allocation of money You may have agreed on your class’s priorities for from the UK Government. spending government money. Did you know?

The First Minister and his Cabinet Did you know? propose an annual budget that has The Welsh Government does not have to be discussed and approved by the power to raise taxes. the National Assembly for Wales before it can be implemented.

20 Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government

£5000 £5000

Pum Mil o Bunnoedd Five Thousand Pounds