Leighton Andrews, Minister for Education and Skills
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
The introduction of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF) and the reading and numeracy tests represent a significant change to the assessment arrangements in schools in Wales.
On 1 October, I announced a review of assessment and the National Curriculum in Wales. The review aims to streamline and simplify assessment arrangements and consider the National Curriculum core and other foundation subjects at each stage to ensure that our expectations of content and skills development are suitably robust.
As part of the review and in light of the roll out of the Foundation Phase having been completed, I want to ascertain whether there is a general agreement on the need for change to the current Key Stage 2 curriculum and assessment requirements in Wales and, if so, the nature of that change.
I am keen to gather views on how the curriculum can be best delivered at KS2, and I will begin this process by chairing a seminar on 27 February. I have invited practitioners, academics, parent governors and other key stakeholders to contribute to this important discussion and I am looking forward to what I hope will be a fascinating and informative debate.
This is an initial step in the review process and there will be further opportunities for individuals, organisations and interested parties to feed into the debate over the course of the review.
The key findings from the seminar and other consultations will inform the wider review of assessment and the National Curriculum in Wales and any necessary changes to Key Stage 2 will be considered as part of this.