Terms of reference

The purpose of the Strategic Stakeholder Group (SSG) is to ensure that key stakeholders, especially those who are not represented elsewhere in the governance structure of our national mission or on working groups, are:

• informed of and involved in developing the approach to implementing Successful Futures: Independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales, and Teaching for Tomorrow’s Teachers: Options for the future of initial teacher education in Wales
• informed of and involved in developing the approach to implementing the Additional Learning Needs Transformation Programme (ALN-TP), and are
• aware of alignment with Professional Learning for the workforce.

The group is part of a set of governance arrangements which aim to ensure that implementation remains true to the vision and recommendations which led to our programme of education reform.

The group’s role is to:

• provide external challenge, scrutiny and advice
• engage constructively with the Education Directorate and its delivery partners to advise on ways of working and approaches to design, development and realisation of the key components of reform – curriculum, professional learning, accountability and Additional Learning Needs
• act as a ‘critical friend’, providing feedback to the Education Directorate on proposals for and progress with implementation
• advise the Education Directorate in its approach to communication in relation to development and implementation
• assist the Welsh Government by positively communicating key messages and helping develop consensus
• gather and feed back stakeholder views to the Welsh Government

A Children and Young People sub group operates under the SSG to specifically take account of the views of children and young people in the reform journey.

Professor Graham Donaldson’s report Successful Futures: An Independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales was published in February 2015 and contained far reaching and ambitious recommendations for a new curriculum in Wales. The recommendations encompass curriculum design, assessment and accountability and have very significant implications for the education workforce.

John Furlong’s report Teaching for Tomorrow’s Teachers: Options for the future of initial teacher education and training in Wales was published in March 2015 and sets out options for reform of ITET to better equip teachers to meet the demands of teaching including the requirements emerging from the Donaldson review.

A White Paper setting out proposals to introduce a new legislative framework for supporting children and young people with additional learning needs was published in May 2014. Following the consultation a draft Bill ‘the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill’ was introduced to the National Assembly for Wales in December 2016. The related 2018 Act was passed by the National Assembly for Wales on 12 December 2017 and received Royal Assent on 24 January 2018.

The Minister for Education has signalled that improving and enhancing the quality and availability of professional learning opportunities for education practitioners is a priority.

All elements of education reform require careful and close coordination and management. In keeping with the aims of Qualified for Life and the aim of developing a self-improving system, implementation is being taken forward through collaboration with the education sector.

The governance structure of this major reform programme includes:

• A strategic programme Change Board
• A Delivery Board
• An Independent Advisory Group
• Area-specific expert groups which support elements of our programme of work outlined in our national mission

The intention is that, other than for a few central stakeholders, duplication between these groups and the Strategic Stakeholder Group will be kept to a minimum. This reduces the burden on individuals and organisations and allows for a smaller and more effective group.

Separate arrangements will be made to engage with and explore the views of parents and learners. The Chair may invite non-members to attend meetings as required where specific expertise could support the work of the group.

The Strategic Stakeholder Group will be chaired by a Welsh Government representative of the Education Directorate.

• Each member is responsible for bringing their skills, experience and expertise to the group, ensuring that they carry out the functions set out under ‘Purpose’ above in a helpful and constructive manner.
• Ahead of meetings of the group members are expected to read all materials presented for their consideration and to contribute opinions and relevant examples of experience for discussion at the group in a timely and appropriate manner.
• The group will set its own agenda and determine its own priorities. The Chair of the Strategic Stakeholder Group, based on an assessment of progress and risks to delivery, may decide to take a closer interest and offer specific more detailed advice on aspects of implementation where these are considered critical to the overall success of the programme of reform. From time to time group members may also be asked by the Change Board to provide specific or detailed advice on aspects of reform where their knowledge and expertise would help shape direction or provide solutions to particular issues.

The Strategic Stakeholder Group will meet 3 times a year alternating between North, South and mid Wales.

The Strategic Stakeholder Group will have administrative support from the Education Directorate.

• Association of Directors of Education in Wales (ADEW)
• Arts Council of Wales
• ASCL Cymru
• Association of Educational Psychologists
• ATL Cymru / NUT
• British Humanist Association
• Careers Wales
• Chair of Wales Principle Youth Officers Group
• Children in Wales
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• Colleges Wales / Colegau Cymru
• Co-operative College
• Council for Wales Voluntary Youth Service (CWVYS)
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Society of Schools for Welsh Medium Education (CYDAG)
• Estyn
• Faith Communities Forum
• Federation of Small Businesses (representative to be confirmed)
• Field Studies Council
• GMB
• GWE – Regional consortium (North Wales)
• Interfaith Council
• Mind
• National Assembly for Wales – Education & Youth Engagement
• National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)
• National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)
• SSG Terms of Reference: 12.12.16 updated May 2019
• National Training Federation for Wales
• National Trust
• National Union of Students Wales (NUS Wales)
• Prospect
• Public Health Wales
• Race Council Cymru (BAME Alliance)
• Race Equality First (BAME Alliance)
• Sequence ICT/DCF Representative
• Stonewall Cymru
• Sports Wales
• Techniquest
• Third Sector Additional Learning Need Alliance (TSANA)
• Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru (UCAC)
• University and College Union (UCU)
• Unison in Wales
• Unite the Union
• Urdd Gobaith Cymru
• Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (USCET)
• Voice the Union
• Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team Wales (EYST Wales)
• Wales Alliance for Global Education (WAGE) (representative to be confirmed)
• Wales Disability Reference Group (representative to be confirmed)
• Wales PPA
• Wales Association of SACREs (WASACRE) (representative to be confirmed)
• Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA)
• Welsh Government – Chief Medical Officer
• Welsh Government - Chief Scientific Adviser
• Welsh Government - Lifelong Learning - Cadw
• Welsh Government – National Adviser for Violence against Women
• SSG Terms of Reference: 12.12.16 updated May 2019
• Welsh Government - Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Wales (SENTW)
• Welsh Language Commissioner
• Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC)
• Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)
• Welsh Government – Director, Education Directorate
• Welsh Government – Schools Effectiveness Division
• Welsh Government – Education Business & Governance
• Welsh Government – Curriculum
• Welsh Government – Support, Learners Division
• Chair for Independent Advisory Group
• Welsh Government – Curriculum Programme Manager
• Welsh Government – Strategic Communications & Marketing
• Welsh Government – Curriculum Stakeholder Manager
• Welsh Government – Welsh Language Adviser
• Welsh Government – Pedagogy, Leadership & Professional Learning

Strategic Stakeholder CYP Sub-Group members

• Sport Wales
• Urdd Gobaith Cymru
• Children in Wales
• Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS)
• Assembly Wales - Education and Youth Engagement
• Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• Principal Youth Officers Group
• Third Sector Additional Needs Alliance (TSANA)
• Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales (EYST Wales)
• Welsh Government – Education Business Planning and Governance
• Welsh Government – Strategic Communications and Marketing
• Welsh Government – Professional Advice – Development of Welsh in Education
• Welsh Government – Professional Advice – Schools and Local Authorities