Lynne Neagle, Cabinet Secretary for Education
Today, I am pleased to publish a report capturing the key outcomes of the National Summit on Behaviour in Schools and Colleges held on 22 May. The Summit brought together nearly 120 stakeholders, partners and practitioners, creating a powerful space for collaboration, reflection and action.
The Summit provided opportunities for open dialogue to explore current issues, celebrate what works, and shape support for practitioners. At its heart was a shared commitment to helping every child and young person thrive. This report captures the collective insights, commitment and vision of practitioners and stakeholders to create positive, inclusive learning environments for all.
The growing body of evidence on behaviour in schools, including key insights from the Summit, the national behaviour survey and the Roundtable on Safety and Violence will shape a responsive action plan to inform the future programme of work on behaviour. This plan will drive forward the five immediate actions to tackle behaviour which I announced in May to ensure meaningful support for schools and positive outcomes for learners.
To accelerate collaboration with key partners, experts and practitioners, two new forums launched this month, focusing on the use of mobile phones and social media in schools and exclusions and detentions. These forums bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including headteachers and frontline practitioners, to ensure a wide range of views inform our next steps.
To shape future behaviour policy with fresh insights, work is underway to scope new, tailored research, with a strong emphasis on parental voice. We are also strengthening our engagement with young people by aligning with the important work of the Welsh Youth Parliament’s Crime and Safety Committee.
The Roundtable and the Summit mark the beginning of a partnership-based approach to tackle behaviour issues in schools and colleges. I remain committed to a wider programme of engagement in the autumn, with a key focus on practitioner, learner and parental voice. Together, we will co-create effective, evidence-informed solutions to deliver tangible, actionable outcomes, leading to positive change in classrooms across Wales.
This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.