Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Welsh Language
Hannah Blythyn, Deputy Minister for Social Partnership
Over the summer the Welsh Government has worked in partnership with the Wales TUC to develop a pilot project to support delivery of the ‘Careers and Work-Related Experience’ (CWRE) element of the Curriculum for Wales. CWRE is a cross-cutting and integral element of the Curriculum for Wales, for all learners aged 3 to 16 and schools should enable learners to gain experiences related to work and careers, developing knowledge of the breadth of opportunities available to them throughout their lives. This learning will help them make informed decisions about their career pathways.
Schools’ collaborations with businesses already provide learners with opportunities to learn about work and employment, develop the skills required by employers, and to raise the aspirations of all learners in considering the full range of opportunities available to them.
The ‘Unions and the World of Work’ pilot will see a range of materials being made available to secondary schools across Wales, with the aim of ensuring the next generation of workers and employers have a better understanding of employment rights, the role of trade unions and the impact of collective voice in addressing issues in the workplace and beyond. This programme complements the wider engagement between schools, businesses and employers in the context of CWRE, by ensuring learners are aware of their rights as employees, helping them to achieve the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales.
The pilot will involve 35 secondary schools and sessions will be delivered by teaching staff or by trade union representatives, invited into schools as guest speakers. Materials and resources will also be made available for all schools to access on the Hwb, the online education portal for pupils and education.
If, as we hope, the pilot proves successful, our plan is to scale it up into a long-term, sustainable programme of activity that can be delivered in a range of education settings, including primary schools, further education institutions and community youth settings.