National Assembly for Wales

The employment of teachers and other staff in independent schools in Wales is a matter entirely for the proprietor or trustees of an independent school.

However, independent schools must meet the requirements for registration under the Independent School Standards (Wales) Regulations 2003.  Standard 4 addresses the suitability of proprietors and staff.  It is a legal requirement that the person with overall responsibility for the day to day running of an independent school has an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check undertaken by the Welsh Government. That person is then responsible for ensuring that all other staff and volunteers working in the school have been subject to an enhanced criminal record check before they take up their appointment. 

Although it is not a requirement that teachers in independent schools must be qualified teachers, over the past few years in partnership with the Regional Consortia a number of teachers in independent schools have undertaken the National Professional Qualification for Head teachers (NPQH). The NPQH is designed to prepare experienced teachers for headships through training in management techniques, tutorial support, and achieving school standards.

The Education (Wales) Act 2014 sets out the categories of those in the education workforce who are required to register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC). Whilst these do not at present include those who work in the independent school sector, a review on the ‘Proposed registration of teachers and others who support learning in the independent sector with the Education Workforce Council’ identified that there was support for this to happen. The implications of such a change need to be considered, and I have instructed my officials to provide me with advice on making legislative amendments in relation to those who work in the independent school sector.

All independent schools in Wales are required to be registered with the Welsh Government, and must meet the standards set out in the Independent School Standards Regulations (Wales) 2003 as a condition of their continued registration. This includes Standard 3 relating to welfare, health and safety of pupils. The standard is designed to ensure that as far as possible pupils are safe and their wellbeing is promoted.

Independent schools are also required to comply with the Welsh Government guidance about safeguarding matters and providers should have in place policies and procedures that comply with them. The school’s safeguarding policies should be treated as ‘living’ documents and regularly reviewed.

Work has already commenced on updating the independent school regulations, ensuring they are strengthened and reflect current safeguarding guidance and practice.  This work will be taken forward with key stakeholders, and the revised regulations will be subject to a public consultation in due course. 

Independent schools are inspected regularly by Estyn to ensure compliance with the independent school standard regulations.  The inspectorate reports to the Welsh Government on whether the school’s arrangements for safeguarding pupils meet requirements and ensure that all children are protected.  During the inspection Estyn will check that the school has robust procedures for checking the suitability of staff and others who are in contact with children, and that the school maintains a record of these checks.

Where an independent school also provides boarding provision Care Inspectorate Wales will inspect them against the National Minimum Standards 2003 (NMS). The NMS cover five broad areas which include welfare policies and welfare support for boarders.

Where an inspection identifies that a school has failed to meet one or more of the standards the school is required to submit an action plan outlining how it intends to address the shortcomings identified during the inspection. 

An acceptable action plan must define clearly the action planned, identify the person(s) responsible for taking the action, establish specific timescales for the completion of each action and suitable milestones to enable judgement of progress towards completing the action, define the criteria for judging success or otherwise of the action in meeting its objectives; and specify the financial and time resources that will be allocated to each action.

Following receipt of a school’s action plan advice is sought from the inspectorates on whether the plan is a fully effective tool in securing the required improvements.

Acting on the advice from the inspectorate the Welsh Government will then either reject the plan or approve the plan, with or without modifications.

After a period of time the Welsh Government will request that the inspectorates revisit the school to check their progress against the agreed action plan.

The employment of teachers and other staff in independent schools in Wales is a matter entirely for the proprietor or trustees of an independent school.

However, independent schools must meet the requirements for registration under the Independent School Standards (Wales) Regulations 2003.  Standard 4 addresses the suitability of proprietors and staff.  It is a legal requirement that the person with overall responsibility for the day to day running of an independent school has an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check undertaken by the Welsh Government. That person is then responsible for ensuring that all other staff and volunteers working in the school have been subject to an enhanced criminal record check before they take up their appointment. 

Although it is not a requirement that teachers in independent schools must be qualified teachers, over the past few years in partnership with the Regional Consortia a number of teachers in independent schools have undertaken the National Professional Qualification for Head teachers (NPQH). The NPQH is designed to prepare experienced teachers for headships through training in management techniques, tutorial support, and achieving school standards.

The Education (Wales) Act 2014 sets out the categories of those in the education workforce who are required to register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC). Whilst these do not at present include those who work in the independent school sector, a review on the ‘Proposed registration of teachers and others who support learning in the independent sector with the Education Workforce Council’ identified that there was support for this to happen. The implications of such a change need to be considered, and I have instructed my officials to provide me with advice on making legislative amendments in relation to those who work in the independent school sector.

All independent schools in Wales are required to be registered with the Welsh Government, and must meet the standards set out in the Independent School Standards Regulations (Wales) 2003 as a condition of their continued registration. This includes Standard 3 relating to welfare, health and safety of pupils. The standard is designed to ensure that as far as possible pupils are safe and their wellbeing is promoted.

Independent schools are also required to comply with the Welsh Government guidance about safeguarding matters and providers should have in place policies and procedures that comply with them. The school’s safeguarding policies should be treated as ‘living’ documents and regularly reviewed.

Work has already commenced on updating the independent school regulations, ensuring they are strengthened and reflect current safeguarding guidance and practice.  This work will be taken forward with key stakeholders, and the revised regulations will be subject to a public consultation in due course. 

Independent schools are inspected regularly by Estyn to ensure compliance with the independent school standard regulations.  The inspectorate reports to the Welsh Government on whether the school’s arrangements for safeguarding pupils meet requirements and ensure that all children are protected.  During the inspection Estyn will check that the school has robust procedures for checking the suitability of staff and others who are in contact with children, and that the school maintains a record of these checks.

Where an independent school also provides boarding provision Care Inspectorate Wales will inspect them against the National Minimum Standards 2003 (NMS). The NMS cover five broad areas which include welfare policies and welfare support for boarders.

Where an inspection identifies that a school has failed to meet one or more of the standards the school is required to submit an action plan outlining how it intends to address the shortcomings identified during the inspection. 

An acceptable action plan must define clearly the action planned, identify the person(s) responsible for taking the action, establish specific timescales for the completion of each action and suitable milestones to enable judgement of progress towards completing the action, define the criteria for judging success or otherwise of the action in meeting its objectives; and specify the financial and time resources that will be allocated to each action.

Following receipt of a school’s action plan advice is sought from the inspectorates on whether the plan is a fully effective tool in securing the required improvements.

Acting on the advice from the inspectorate the Welsh Government will then either reject the plan or approve the plan, with or without modifications.

After a period of time the Welsh Government will request that the inspectorates revisit the school to check their progress against the agreed action plan.

The employment of teachers and other staff in independent schools in Wales is a matter entirely for the proprietor or trustees of an independent school.

However, independent schools must meet the requirements for registration under the Independent School Standards (Wales) Regulations 2003.  Standard 4 addresses the suitability of proprietors and staff.  It is a legal requirement that the person with overall responsibility for the day to day running of an independent school has an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check undertaken by the Welsh Government. That person is then responsible for ensuring that all other staff and volunteers working in the school have been subject to an enhanced criminal record check before they take up their appointment. 

Although it is not a requirement that teachers in independent schools must be qualified teachers, over the past few years in partnership with the Regional Consortia a number of teachers in independent schools have undertaken the National Professional Qualification for Head teachers (NPQH). The NPQH is designed to prepare experienced teachers for headships through training in management techniques, tutorial support, and achieving school standards.

The Education (Wales) Act 2014 sets out the categories of those in the education workforce who are required to register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC). Whilst these do not at present include those who work in the independent school sector, a review on the ‘Proposed registration of teachers and others who support learning in the independent sector with the Education Workforce Council’ identified that there was support for this to happen. The implications of such a change need to be considered, and I have instructed my officials to provide me with advice on making legislative amendments in relation to those who work in the independent school sector.

All independent schools in Wales are required to be registered with the Welsh Government, and must meet the standards set out in the Independent School Standards Regulations (Wales) 2003 as a condition of their continued registration. This includes Standard 3 relating to welfare, health and safety of pupils. The standard is designed to ensure that as far as possible pupils are safe and their wellbeing is promoted.

Independent schools are also required to comply with the Welsh Government guidance about safeguarding matters and providers should have in place policies and procedures that comply with them. The school’s safeguarding policies should be treated as ‘living’ documents and regularly reviewed.

Work has already commenced on updating the independent school regulations, ensuring they are strengthened and reflect current safeguarding guidance and practice.  This work will be taken forward with key stakeholders, and the revised regulations will be subject to a public consultation in due course. 

Independent schools are inspected regularly by Estyn to ensure compliance with the independent school standard regulations.  The inspectorate reports to the Welsh Government on whether the school’s arrangements for safeguarding pupils meet requirements and ensure that all children are protected.  During the inspection Estyn will check that the school has robust procedures for checking the suitability of staff and others who are in contact with children, and that the school maintains a record of these checks.

Where an independent school also provides boarding provision Care Inspectorate Wales will inspect them against the National Minimum Standards 2003 (NMS). The NMS cover five broad areas which include welfare policies and welfare support for boarders.

Where an inspection identifies that a school has failed to meet one or more of the standards the school is required to submit an action plan outlining how it intends to address the shortcomings identified during the inspection. 

An acceptable action plan must define clearly the action planned, identify the person(s) responsible for taking the action, establish specific timescales for the completion of each action and suitable milestones to enable judgement of progress towards completing the action, define the criteria for judging success or otherwise of the action in meeting its objectives; and specify the financial and time resources that will be allocated to each action.

Following receipt of a school’s action plan advice is sought from the inspectorates on whether the plan is a fully effective tool in securing the required improvements.

Acting on the advice from the inspectorate the Welsh Government will then either reject the plan or approve the plan, with or without modifications.

After a period of time the Welsh Government will request that the inspectorates revisit the school to check their progress against the agreed action plan.

14 of the Films we funded between 2012/13 and 2019/20 have completed, but 5 of these are yet to be released.  A list of these is at annex 1.    To our knowledge, the productions have been shown in many locations and on diverse platforms; however this is not something that Welsh Government keeps track of as it is very difficult to do so, due to the ease and frequency with which productions move platforms digitally, and constant changes in licensing agreements. 

Information on which platforms are currently streaming each production is available via www.justwatch.com/uk the streaming guide for movies and shows, and it is easy to obtain physical copies of most productions online and in major high street retailers.

Annex 1: List of Films produced in Wales that have completed

14 of the Films we funded between 2012/13 and 2019/20 have completed, but 5 of these are yet to be released.  A list of these is at annex 1.    To our knowledge, the productions have been shown in many locations and on diverse platforms; however this is not something that Welsh Government keeps track of as it is very difficult to do so, due to the ease and frequency with which productions move platforms digitally, and constant changes in licensing agreements. 

Information on which platforms are currently streaming each production is available via www.justwatch.com/uk the streaming guide for movies and shows, and it is easy to obtain physical copies of most productions online and in major high street retailers.

Annex 1: List of Films produced in Wales that have completed

The Welsh Government convened a Housing Adaptations Steering Group in September 2018. Membership includes local authorities, housing associations and representatives from Care and Repair Cymru and wider voluntary sector representatives. The Group is supporting Welsh Government to implement recommendations from the 2018 Wales Audit Office Report on Housing Adaptations. The work of the group is to explore how best to enable service users have equal access to services and support; that their views and requirements are fully considered and that advice is provided in relation to streamlining and simplifying the complexity of the current housing adaptations system and support independent living.

In April 2019 the Welsh Government published Housing Adaptations Standards of Service. The document sets out the level of service expected for the delivery and installation of a housing adaptation for service users, regardless of their tenure or location. The Standards aim to ensure service providers deliver housing adaptations in a more consistent manner and inform service users on the level of service expected when they seek support for an adaptation.

There has been a marked improvement in both the quality and coverage of data provided for the most recent data analysis of housing adaptations, which was published on 20 January. Ongoing reporting informs our understanding of the delivery of adaptations in respect of the consistency and transparency of services in Wales and will ultimately help to identify where future improvements can be made.

In tandem with this work, the Welsh Government has commissioned external consultants to conduct a review of the funding streams used for housing adaptations. The review will evaluate how each funding stream is allocated and spent across Wales and to what extent allocation reflects population need. The review, which will report in June, will inform future policy development to simplify existing funding systems and promote more equitable access to housing adaptations.

This Government remains firmly committed to supporting our Armed Forces community in Wales. The Armed Forces Expert Group, which I chair, works alongside our Armed Forces Liaison Officers, Regional Armed forces Fora and Champions and  other key partners, to ensure the community is able to access the  support and services it requires.

Last year we published our first Welsh Government Armed Forces Covenant Annual report. Developed in partnership with the Armed Forces Expert Group, it highlights the progress we have made in delivering our commitments to the Armed Forces community, ensuring the principles of the Covenant are upheld. Our 2019 Annual Report will be published in late Spring of this year.

A copy of our first Annual Report can be found at:

https://gov.wales/armed-forces-covenant-annual-report-2018

We have made an offer of funding based on discussions with Mencap Cymru about continuing the helpline. The arrangements are to be confirmed through a grant award letter.

04th December 2019

26th June 2019

05th February 2019

24th October 2018

12th July 2018

23rd April 2018

15th January 2018

20th September 2017

07th June 2017