Changes to school year ‘should never have been a priority’ says NAHT

Responding to the Welsh Government’s announcement that no changes to the school year will take place during the current Senedd term, Laura Doel, national secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said:

“We opposed the proposed reforms to the school year from the outset, and therefore welcome this announcement and thank the new cabinet secretary for education for listening to the profession.

“Changes of this magnitude cannot be taken on a whim and need to be supported by really strong evidence that this would benefit pupils, but no such evidence was forthcoming.

“While we dispute the Welsh Government’s perception that responses to the proposals in its consultation were mixed, we are pleased that the profession has been given an assurance that there will be no changes to the school year during this Senedd term.

“This should never have been a priority, especially amid other reforms to the curriculum and alternative learning needs (ALN) provision. We are grateful to the cabinet secretary for being brave enough to put much more pressing issues to the top of her agenda rather than pressing ahead with a reform which would have had no benefit to learners.”

NAHT represents more than 38,000 school leaders in early years, primary, secondary and special schools, making us the largest association for school leaders in the UK. We represent, advise and train school leaders in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We use our voice at the highest levels of government to influence policy for the benefit of leaders and learners everywhere. Our NAHT Edge section supports, develops and represents middle leaders in schools.