Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Children, Young People and Education Committee.

1.2 In accordance with Standing Order 34.19, the Chair stated that she had determined that the public were excluded from the Committee’s meeting in order to protect public health but that the meeting would be broadcast live on www.senedd.tv

1.3 There were no apologies. The Chair noted that Sioned Williams MS would be subbing for Sian Gwenllian MS for items 5 to 11.

David Jones, Chair – Qualifications Wales

Philip Blaker, Chief Executive – Qualifications Wales

Annual Report

2.1 The Committee scrutinised Qualification Wales on their annual report.

3.1 The motion was agreed.

4.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the previous session.

Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Chair of Universities Wales and Vice Chancellor of Aberystwyth University

Professor Maria Hinfelaar, Vice Chair of Universities Wales and Vice Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndŵr University

Amanda Wilkinson, Director - Universities Wales

Marian Wyn Jones, Chair of the Chairs of Universities Wales (ChUW)

Maxine Penlington, Chair of the Board of Governors at Wrexham Glyndŵr University and representing Chairs of Universities Wales (ChUW)

Louise Casella, Director - The Open University in Wales

Cerith Rhys Jones, External Affairs Manager - The Open University in Wales

5.1 The Committee heard evidence from representatives of Universities Wales, the Chairs of Universities Wales and the Open University.

5.2 Universities Wales agreed to provide further information on:

- how Outcome Agreements have worked in other countries;

- the ‘carve outs’ in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to provide funding and direction for Welsh medium provision;

- governance arrangements within universities and learner protection;

- the effect that the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 may have on the implementation of the Bill.

Guy Lacey, Chair of ColegauCymru and Chief Executive Officer of Coleg Gwent

Dafydd Evans, Chief Executive Officer of Grwp Llandrillo Menai and representing - ColegauCymru

Rachel Bowen, Director of Policy and Public Affairs - ColegauCymru

Sharon Davies, Head of Education - Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)

6.1 The Committee heard evidence from representatives of ColegauCymru and the Welsh Local Government Association.

Becky Ricketts, President - National Union of Students Wales (NUS)

Joe Atkinson, Press and Public Affairs Consultant - National Union of Students Wales (NUS)

7.1 The Committee heard evidence from representatives of NUS Cymru. 

Aled Roberts, Welsh Language Commissioner

Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive - Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol

Gwenllian Griffiths, Chief Engagement Officer - Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol

8.1 The Committee heard evidence from the Welsh Language Commissioner and representatives from Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

8.2 The Welsh Language Commissioner declared that his wife worked in the FE sector and was currently the temporary Chair of Coleg Cymraeg Ceneldaethol.

9.1 The papers were noted.

10.1 The motion was agreed.

11.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the previous sessions.