The recent release of Wales’ lowest-ever PISA results has sparked urgent calls for action in addressing the recruitment and retention crisis in the teaching profession. Laura Anne Jones, leading a Conservative debate on the international PISA rankings, highlighted the concerning decline in Wales’ performance in math, reading, and science tests taken by 15-year-olds.
In response to these alarming statistics, Jones emphasized the need for substantial changes within the education sector. She advocated for the recruitment of 5,000 additional teachers to counter the exodus of educators over the past decades. This shortage, she noted, is particularly pronounced in core subjects and Welsh-medium teaching, nearly reaching a crisis point.
Jones also expressed concerns about the increasing complexities of dealing with additional learning needs (ALN) and pointed out the drastic 86% cut to the ALN resource budget in the draft 2024-25 budget. This move, she argued, exacerbates the challenges faced by educators and the education sector as a whole.
Additionally, Jones called for the abolition of regional consortia and a redirection of the funds back into school budgets. She argued that this change could alleviate some of the financial burdens faced by schools and help improve the overall education system.
Sioned Williams, the Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales West, echoed these concerns and emphasized the need to prioritize the recruitment and retention crisis in the education workforce. With a significant percentage of teachers and teaching assistants planning to leave their positions, Williams stressed the importance of addressing this issue promptly.
Furthermore, Williams called for increased support for Welsh-speaking pupils with ALN and urged ministers to focus on tackling educational inequalities, particularly among pupils eligible for free school meals.
Sam Rowlands, the Conservative MS for North Wales, compared the education systems in Wales and England, noting the disparity in math, reading, and science scores. He expressed concern that children in Wales might face reduced life chances compared to their counterparts in England.
However, Carolyn Thomas, a Labour backbencher, cautioned that the situation in England’s education system is not entirely rosy either, pointing out challenges faced across the border.
Addressing the Conservative proposal to hire an additional 5,000 teachers, Thomas raised concerns about the associated costs, estimated at £225 million annually, and requested clarification on how this would be funded.
Peter Fox, the Conservative MS for Monmouth, criticized the draft 2024-25 spending plans, which he believed were incongruent with promises made following the release of the PISA results. He expressed concern about a real-terms cut of 3.1% in the local government settlement and a £100 million reduction in the tackling-barriers-to-attainment fund.
In response to these concerns, Jeremy Miles, the education minister, acknowledged Wales’ declining performance but emphasized that the results had improved in 2018. He attributed some of the challenges to the impact of Covid on education.
Miles highlighted the significance of Wales’ new curriculum in improving literacy and numeracy standards, positioning them as national priorities. He assured that the draft budget protects and continues to prioritize investment in ALN reform.
Despite these discussions, the Tory motion was rejected by a vote of 14 in favor and 34 against. Instead, the motion, as amended by the Welsh Government, was agreed upon by a narrow margin of 25-24. The education minister stressed that a decade of austerity has made the job of the education workforce increasingly challenging.