Minister for Education and Welsh Language confirms nominated appointments to the Education Workforce Council

I am pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to the Education Workforce Council (EWC). This follows a recent appointments process.

The new members are Nicola Stubbins and Susan Walker.

Both individuals will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles as Council members.

The key aims of the EWC are to:

• contribute to improving the standards of teaching and the quality of learning in Wales

• maintain and improve standards of professional conduct amongst teachers and persons who support teaching and learning in Wales

• maintain public trust, confidence and to safeguard the interests of learners, parents and the general public

The EWC is responsible for:

• establishing and maintaining a Register of education practitioners in Wales

• maintaining a Code of Professional Conduct & Practice for registered education practitioners in Wales

• investigating and hearing cases involving the fitness to practise of registered education practitioners in Wales

• advising Welsh Ministers and others on a range of professional matters including standards of conduct and practice; professional roles and standing; training, career development and performance management, recruitment, retention and supply of registered education practitioners

• accrediting and monitoring programmes of initial school teacher education (ITE) in Wales

• promoting careers in the registered education professions in Wales, on behalf of the Welsh Government

• leading a range of national initiatives and projects for the Welsh Government

The Education Workforce Council (Appointments and Membership) (Wales) Regulations 2014 provides for membership of the EWC to consist of no less than 14 members. 7 members are directly appointed by Welsh Ministers and 7 members are appointed by Welsh Ministers having been nominated by organisations listed in the Schedule of the 2014 Regulations, as amended.

These posts are not remunerated and members of the EWC are not paid, however, they are reimbursed for reasonable travel and subsistence costs.

Members have a typical time commitment of 10 to 12 days per year.

These appointments were made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

New nominated members

Nicola Stubbins

Nicola Stubbins has worked in public service since 1995. Nicola has a Diploma in Social Work and has a Masters in Social Care. Nicola began a career in social care as a Mental Health Support Worker, and has a broad range of experience across Children’s and Adult Social Care as well as Education and Housing.

Nicola has held senior leadership posts in local government for 14 years and is currently the Corporate Director Communities for Denbighshire County Council, where Nicola has lived and worked for over 7 years. As Corporate Director, Nicola has responsibility for Education & Children’s Services, Adult Social Care & Homelessness Services, Customers & Community Services, Strategic Employment, Welsh Language and Corporate Safeguarding. Nicola is also the Council’s Statutory Director of Social Services.

During 2020 to 2021, Nicola was President of the Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru having been Vice President for the previous two years, providing strategic leadership for social care services and influencing legislation, policies and practices. As President, Nicola gave expert evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into the human rights implications of the UK Government’s Covid-19 response; and twice to the Senedd Health, Social Care and Sport Committee: Inquiry into the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, and its management, on health and social care in Wales.

Nicola is also a Board Member of RYA Cymru Wales.

Susan Walker

After undertaking an initial degree at South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education, Susan started a teaching career in London working for the ILEA. After moving back to Wales, Susan worked in schools in the Bridgend area before taking up a headship post in Swansea, also completing her MA (Ed).

Susan was on one of the initial cohorts for the NPQH. A move into the advisory service took Susan back to the old Mid-Glamorgan area and Susan has stayed in this area since 2007, moving into Rhondda Cynon Taff as a school improvement officer in 2011 and in 2017 taking up her current role as Chief Education Officer for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.