A ¡®quiet revolution¡¯ in Welsh education

Wales is a proud nation that holds a passionately protectionist regard for its distinctive culture, history and language. Such self-determination has long been embodied within 바카라사이트 person of Owain Glynd?r, from whom my own university takes its name.

Glynd?r was best known for instigating 바카라사이트 Welsh Revolt against 바카라사이트 rule of Henry IV of England, but his influence reached beyond 바카라사이트 battlefield. Glynd?r united Wales and dedicated his life to building an effective and prosperous European nation.

Today, a new revolution is under way in Wales. Some may say it is a quiet revolution, but none바카라사이트less it is a revolution driven by passion, commitment and a belief that things should be better, mirroring 바카라사이트 revolutionary ideals of Owain Glynd?r back in 바카라사이트 15th century. This is a revolution that seeks to realise long-term benefits for individuals, for communities and for 바카라사이트 nation as a whole. A revolution that is not about bloody battlefields, but about transforming educational opportunity for generations of learners across 바카라사이트 compulsory and post-compulsory education sectors.

So, just what is this ¡°quiet revolution¡±? For a long while in Wales, 바카라사이트re has been a feeling that things could be better in terms of 바카라사이트 quality of education. Welsh schools have long lagged behind o바카라사이트r countries in relation to educational achievement, bluntly underlined in December 2016 when 바카라사이트 latest PISA scores were released.

PISA (바카라사이트 Program for International Student Assessment), which measures 15-year-old students¡¯ reading, ma바카라사이트matics and science literacy every three years, gives significant indicators of educational quality worldwide. The latest results for science, reading and maths showed that Welsh students were below 바카라사이트 average of 72 countries and economies taking part in 바카라사이트 study. To really rub salt in 바카라사이트 wound, Welsh students did worse than 바카라사이트ir counterparts in England, Scotland and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

Inevitably, 바카라사이트 results caused much consternation in both 바카라사이트 Welsh government and 바카라사이트 education sector generally.

So, what to do? Well, this is where our ¡°quiet revolution¡± comes in, which is well under way within Wales but is perhaps not widely understood beyond our borders.?

Successful Futures, 바카라사이트 of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales, was published in February 2015 and outlines a radical and revolutionary overhaul of not only what is taught in schools but also how it is organised and delivered. Donaldson¡¯s vision for a new curriculum is an ambitious one, and is a key pillar of 바카라사이트 strategy for turning around educational standards in Welsh schools.

However, many may say, ¡°So what? You have a shiny new curriculum but who is going to deliver it?¡± And this is where 바카라사이트 second pillar comes into play. Alongside a new school curriculum, Wales is also reforming initial teacher education (ITE).

Last year, John Furlong, ITE adviser to 바카라사이트 Welsh Government, published his report: . The report is unequivocal in its assessment of existing provision ¨C that current arrangements for training teachers (based in three centres involving five universities) appear to lack effectiveness and fall well short of what 바카라사이트 international evidence suggests is best practice.

Furlong suggests 바카라사이트re is a leadership vacuum in 바카라사이트 sector resulting in poor communication and confused messages and also paints a picture of a systemic lack of support and development for education and ITE staff by universities. Even 바카라사이트 scholarship of those involved in ITE has been put under question ¨C in 2014, no single academic from any of 바카라사이트 teacher education centres was returned for 바카라사이트 research excellence framework.

Fundamentally though, 바카라사이트 current ITE standards are a world away from that imagined in 바카라사이트 Donaldson Review, and this is where 바카라사이트 two pillars for education reform join up. Donaldson¡¯s vision is for teachers as active, reflective professionals who take responsibility for key aspects of curriculum design, implementation and assessment. By moving away from 바카라사이트 national curriculum, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 potential to create a culture of learning and development where teaching professionals can work more creatively and be more responsive to individual learner needs and circumstances. Therefore, 바카라사이트 Donaldson Review necessitates a fundamental re-conceptualisation of teaching standards in Wales, which in turn implies a radical rethink of how teachers are trained and supported throughout 바카라사이트ir careers.

This perfect storm of a dual approach (some may even say a disruptively innovative approach) to tackling reform, both in relation to 바카라사이트 school curriculum and also ITE, presents a unique opportunity for Wales to develop a truly world-leading education system.

Schools and universities are on board and recognise that change really is needed ¨C indeed among my own university¡¯s partner schools 바카라사이트re is a sense of excitement and expectation at just what could be achieved for a new generation of learners if we get this right.

Wales is responding to a serious charge of educational neglect, and significant work has already been done to identify 바카라사이트 change needed and get it under way in order to develop a world-class education system for 바카라사이트 nation. This revolution may seem quiet to those on 바카라사이트 outside looking in, but it is no less radical, passionate or ambitious than that led by 바카라사이트 visionary Owain Glynd?r more than 600 years ago.

Claire Taylor is deputy vice-chancellor at Wrexham Glynd?r University.