06 July 2021

In response to the Welsh Government Education Minister’s announcement today that there will be an adjustment to the timetable for implementing Wales’s new curriculum, Dilwyn Roberts-Young, UCAC General Secretary said “We welcome the adjustment to the timetable as a sensible compromise. UCAC tends to agree that the primary sector is, in general, better placed to proceed according to the original timetable, while an extra year for secondary schools will be very much appreciated.

"This is recognition of the fact that secondary schools face a greater challenge in terms of changes to pedagogy and school structures. It is also an acknowledgement of the overwhelming task that has landed on the shoulders of secondary school staff in implementing this year’s alternative qualifications arrangements.

22 March 2021

UCAC has sent letters to the Education Minister and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales expressing deep concern about the assessment arrangements being put in place for summer 2021.

Although UCAC welcomes the cancellation of this year’s exams, developments over recent days have led to fears about the proportionality of the process in terms of the expectations on pupils and on schools.

19 February 2021

On Friday, 19 February, six organizations sent a joint letter to the Minister for Education requesting amendments to the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill.

The Minister had rejected an amendment to the Bill that would create a Code for Teaching Welsh on a Single Continuum, but suggested that a Welsh Language Framework could be created and that it could be statutory.

09 February 2021

The Westminster Government has published a report in response to the consultation on public sector pension arrangements including teachers' pensions.

Changes to the 2015 pension arrangements resulted in a legal ruling that the new schemes discriminated against certain groups of public employees. The Government refers to 2015-2022 as the ‘remedy period’.

The Government's report is published here:

05 February 2021

In response to the Welsh Government Education Minister’s announcement today that Foundation Phase children will begin returning to school during the week after half term, Dilwyn Roberts-Young, UCAC General Secretary said “The fact that Welsh Government has shared the latest scientific and medical evidence has helped to understand the basis of its decision to allow Foundation Phase children to return to face-to-face teaching. We welcome the announcement of mitigating measures to further reduce risks, including regular testing for staff and investment in equipment and modifications.