Agenda item

Councillor D.J.R. Bartlett had earlier declared an interest in that he is President of the Carmarthenshire branch of the National Union of Teachers.

Councillor C.A. Campbell had earlier declared and interest in that he is currently undertaking consultancy work on behalf of ERW.

Councillor M.J.A. Lewis had earlier declared an interest in that she is Vice-President of the Welsh Young Farmers Association.

The Committee received a presentation outlining the proposed components of local curriculum design and offered the draft high level principles in the form of a draft Carmarthenshire Curriculum Declaration. It was informed that subject to corporate approval, this blueprint would be further developed in a rolling programme between 2017 and 2021, involving school practitioners at every stage of the process.

The following issues were discussed during consideration of the presentation:

Reference was made to the recent member seminar and it was asked whether further sessions would be held in due course. The Head of Learner Programmes confirmed that when further details and guidance emerged from the Welsh Government, more sessions would be held. It was also envisaged that a seminar with local employers would also be held to link the future curriculum with their needs and benefit the county economically.

The proposed flexibility to cater for local needs and promote local history was welcomed and it was asked whether primary schools were currently placing enough emphasis on Welsh history in order to give both local youngsters and those who might have moved to the area, a sense of their roots and history. The Head of Learner Programmes agreed stating that it was important for children and young people to appreciate who they were and instil values in them that would be of benefit in the future. He acknowledged that there were really important and local issues and historical matters that could be included in the curriculum but it was also important not to create inward looking youngsters but foster both an appreciation for Welsh heritage and a desire to contribute as global citizens. He added that local poet Mererid Hopwood had been invited to address ERW’s Challenge Advisors on this particular aspect of the new curriculum at a seminar in the new year.

In response to a query on the existing work undertaken by the department to foster and promote the Welsh language and culture, the Interim Director of Education & Children confirmed that much work had already been done in this area and that the County had a number of excellent resources which were used by schools.

Reference was made to the development of a new curriculum in Scotland and the resulting gap between what was taught in schools and the assessment framework. It was asked what measures were being taken to ensure that this did not happen in Wales. The Head of Learner Programmes acknowledged the concern and informed the Committee that a sub-group had already been established by the Welsh Government to investigate this further and ensure that such a problem did not arise in Wales.

The development of a new curriculum was welcomed but it was felt that this was not solely a matter for the Education Department but that all the Council’s departments needed to contribute in some way or another as their initiatives and activities also impacted on the communities in which the county’s schools operated.

The Committee UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to endorse the Draft Carmarthenshire Curriculum Declaration to the Executive Board for its consideration.