There is confusion over when a new performance measurement system for schools in Wales will be introduced.
Schools had expected an announcement about a new system early this term following comments made by education minister Jeremy Miles in the summer, with implementation expected to take place before September 2023.
But Impact Wales has learned that a delay in gathering information from schools might have pushed that date back.
The Welsh Government commissioned Social Finance to carry out research into data and information needs and uses across the school system in Wales.
It will use this research to support new evaluation, improvement and accountability arrangements that underpin the implementation of Curriculum for Wales.
The project started in May last year, and a timeline set out by the Welsh Government indicated that recommendations would be developed between August and September this year, with a consultation to follow.
However, when we asked the Welsh Government for an update last week, it said the research would now be published “later this autumn”, with an announcement on next steps made “by the end of the year”.
It is not clear whether this means the end of the calendar year or the school year.
Here is the Welsh Government response in full:
“We have commissioned research into the data and information needs and uses in the school system in Wales. This research, which has incorporated extensive stakeholder engagement, is due to be published later this autumn. This, together with the recommendations from a recent study on monitoring and evaluation of the curriculum and assessment reforms in Wales will enable us to develop a new, robust system that supports all tiers of the school system. We expect to make an announcement on our next steps towards developing this system by the end of the year. In the meantime, we are actively looking at what information needs to be published in the interim to enable transparency whilst not burdening schools – we anticipate that an announcement on this will be made soon.”
This suggests the final recommendations will now come in November, with the Welsh Government consulting on them in the Spring term. The delay, and the additional time recommended by Social Finance as being needed to develop new tests, means it is highly unlikely that a new system will be developed and ready for use in time for September 2023.
September 2024 is currently being recommended by Social Finance as the earliest date for implementation.
This will come as a shock to school leaders who were expecting clarity on a performance measurement system early this term.
They are already being asked by outside agencies like Estyn and local authority improvement advisors for data relating to standards.
The fact they haven’t been informed about the delay will only add to the pressure they are under and the anxiety they feel over accountability.
What school leaders want to know is:
- What is the performance measurement system?
- How much time and space will we have to implement it?
It is not surprising that, at the moment, many feel that they are being left in the dark about this.
We have asked the Welsh Government for more clarity on the situation and will let you know if and when we get it.
But the bottom line is we are still no nearer to knowing how schools will be held accountable for standards of learning within Curriculum for Wales.