Series of public lectures turns spotlight on eduation in Wales

THE Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy at Cardiff Metropolitan University is continuing this autumn with its successful series of public lectures on education in Wales.

The lectures are intended to inform the ongoing reform programme in Welsh education and Cardiff Met’s commitment to supporting that programme through the work we do in initial teacher education, professional learning for teachers and educational research. The lecture series has been attended by our partnership schools, members of the policy community from across the Welsh education system and university staff.

On September 26, Marco Kools from the Education Directorate of the OECD will be contributing on the work they have been doing in Wales to develop schools as learning organisations where lifelong professional development, inquiry and research become embedded and help to transform the work of school leaders and teachers as well as the educational achievement of all pupils.

On October 4, Professor Mick Waters will be presenting on the work he has been doing for the Welsh Government on teachers’ pay and conditions in Wales. His report, which is due to be published shortly before the lecture, will set out the recommendations of the task and finish group he has been chairing on how the Welsh Government should use the powers it has for the first time to shape teacher pay and conditions in Wales.

On November 14, Professor Graham Donaldson, whose report in 2015 has led to the development of a new school curriculum in Wales, will be lecturing on “Accountability and Learning”, setting out how accountability systems need to change if the new curriculum and the new professionalism which it will require from teachers is to succeed.

The current series will conclude on December 13, when the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams AM, will update her audience on progress in achieving the national mission for education in Wales which she set out in 2017 and updating them on the next steps that she will be looking for the education system to take.

Places at the lectures are free on a first come, first served basis. More information can be found at www. cardiffmet.ac.uk/education/pages/ events.aspx and places can be booked by emailing edulectures@ cardiffmet.ac.uk

■ Professor David Egan is at the Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy, Cardiff Metropolitan University.