New curriculum date under review

THE date for the start of Wales’ new curriculum will be kept under review, although it is still a priority to aim to roll it out from 2022, the Welsh Government has said.

First Minister Mark Drakeford and Education Minister Kirsty Williams were answering questions on the new curriculum from members of the Wales Youth Parliament and the Children, Young People and Education Committee this week.

Asked whether the date for starting the biggest change to the curriculum in a generation would be delayed owing to disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and school closures, they said they hoped not, but it would be kept under review.

Earlier on in the pandemic the First Minister confirmed in a written statement that legislation for the new curriculum would continue as planned in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The new curriculum is due to be rolled out in primary schools and Year 7 of secondary schools from 2022, taking on more school years each year, until all are following it from 2026. For a time, the old and new curriculums will be taught.

Asked by the Welsh Youth Parliament whether the date would be put back while schools deal with disruption caused by the pandemic, the First Minister said: “Commencing the new curriculum in 2022 is one of the biggest priorities we have.”

But earlier in the day the Education Minister told the Children, Young People and Education Committee: “We have not departed from our 2022 date but will keep that under review.”

Responding to a question from committee chairman Lynne Neagle MS whether the ongoing disruption to schools meant she would consider revising that date, Ms Williams added: “I cannot ignore the disruption to education caused by Covid.”