Fair education standards key to education consultation - Williams

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 10th Oct 2008

Welsh Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Kirsty Williams will tomorrow lead the conference debate looking at a fairer education system that will put an end to the scandal of thousands of children leaving school every year with little or no formal qualifications and poor life prospects.

Having already launched her consultation paper, Kirsty Williams will engage with members and education specialists at the Welsh Lib Dem conference to see how best to formulate policy that will raise the standard of education and make sure that no child is left behind in the education system in Wales.

Kirsty Williams said:

"With the advent of devolution in Wales, our education system has seen some significant improvements, from scrapping testing and introducing the Welsh Bac. However, we should not stop there. We have devolved powers over education and this is our opportunity to raise the bar and give everyone a fair start. This is our opportunity to make it happen.

"This unfair educational system is allowing too many people to leave formal education without qualifications. Too many of our children are coasting through, missing out on the opportunities to maximise their potential.

"I want to see an education system with excellent leadership in every school. I want a teaching profession in Wales which recruits the brightest and best, and gives them opportunities to develop. And schools which achieve through strong discipline and innovative teaching.

"The children who are let down by the system when young, we end up paying for through their lives - whether through the benefits system, or the criminal justice system. If we can invest that money in their education, in helping them help themselves - spending a bit now, we will be saving a lot of time, money and concern later."

Notes:

The education paper will be debated on Saturday October 11.

Following the debate, a formal policy proposal will be debated at Spring Conference in Cardiff next year.

The emerging policies will form the backbone of the 2011 manifesto.