Written Assembly Questions tabled on 19 November 2013 for answer on 26 November 2013
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on ensuring greater uptake of deputy heads and teachers onto the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)? (WAQ65954)
Answer received on 27 November 2013
Huw Lewis: The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) is key to ensuring that only the best practitioners are appointed to become headteachers in our schools. The NPQH was revised in 2011 so that it is now based on a rigorous and robust practice based assessment and can only be attained by those who can demonstrate that they have the required skills and attributes for headship, and who can evidence their practice against the Leadership Standards.
The number of places available on the NPQH assessment programme is reviewed annually and was increased from 80 to 100 for the 2012-2013 round.
The number of applications to take part in the NPQH each year is in excess of the 100 places available and all places are filled. This year, for example, nearly 200 applications were received for the 100 places on the assessment programme. I am content that the current number of 100 places is appropriate given the need to maintain standards; the approximate number of headship vacancies that arise each year; and GTCW statistics showing that there are well over 800 practitioners who have previously been awarded the NPQH who are not yet headteachers.
Furthermore, there is a clear relationship between those applicants who score more lowly in selection and those who ultimately fail the final NPQH assessment. Therefore extending the number of assessment places would risk lowering the bar in terms of the standards required for selection and would almost certainly mean simply increasing the failure rate for assessment.
Leighton Andrews (Rhondda): What was the percentage of Welsh students getting A*-C in GCSE English language in 2013? (WAQ65957)
Answer received on 28 November 2013
Huw Lewis Provisional examination data showed that, in 2012/13, 62.2 per cent of 15 year olds in schools in Wales who entered GCSE English Language achieved A*-C.
The final results will be published at 9:30am on 27th November 2013 and can be found on the Welsh Government website:
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Further to WAQ65905, will the Minister provide specifically the evaluation of Abergavenny Food Festival 2013 which took place in September, non-inclusive of any other events which happened prior or are still due to take place? (WAQ65955)
Answer received on 25 November 2013
Alun Davies: No.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Further to WAQ65905, will the Minister provide specifically the list of traders that attended Abergavenny Food Festival 2013 which took place in September, non-inclusive of any other events which happened prior or are still due to take place? (WAQ65956)
Answer received on 27 November 2013
Alun Davies: This is a question for Abergavenny Food Festival.