NUT Cymru Welcomes Success of Welsh Baccalaureate

Cymru Wales

Press Release: for immediate release: 18 October 2006

Today’s announcements by the Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Jane Davidson that the Welsh Baccalaureate would be offered to all schools and further education colleges in Wales was welcomed by NUT Cymru.

David Evans, secretary of NUT Cymru said, “This is a Wales initiative to meet the needs of Wales. It is because curricular matters have been devolved to the Welsh Assembly, because we have a single examination board in the WJEC and because teachers, schools and colleges in Wales have been accustomed to working together and sharing good practice that we can take pleasure in the success of this initiative.

“The reports we have received of the fulfilment students have experienced in the Core Studies comprising key skills, work-related education, personal and social education and particularly the Wales, Europe and the World component have been heartening.

“Many teachers have found the monitoring and tutorial roles rewarding. We are pleased that the initiative recognises the professionalism, initiative and imagination of teachers. Too often a government-led curriculum can feel like a centrally imposed strait-jacket.

“As a Union we have one worry. The WJEC has reported that extra resourcing was key to the success of the Welsh Bacc in its pilot centre. Extra resourcing must go to the schools and colleges that decide to adopt the Welsh Baccalaureate. Anything less would be unfair to the young people, their teachers and the reputation of the Welsh Baccalaureate itself.” Contact David Evans or Rhys Williams, NUT Cymru, 122 Bute St., Cardiff CF10 5AE. Tel: 02920 491818. Mob: 07815 071164 e-mail: [email protected]