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Welsh Government Launches Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan After Poor PISA Results
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New Literacy and Numeracy Plan Announced
The Welsh Government introduced a “Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan” for learners aged zero to 16. The strategy emphasizes parental engagement, expanded school library access, and targeted support for pupils transitioning from primary to secondary school, including a new year-six progress indicator.
PISA Results Prompt Action
The latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) data, released on September 8, showed Welsh 15-year-olds scoring 459 in mathematics, well below England’s 492 and a decline from Wales’s 466 three years earlier—equivalent to losing half a year of learning. The results placed Wales at the bottom of the United Kingdom league in mathematics, reading and science, and below the OECD average among 91 nations.
Plan’s Core Measures
- Strengthening parental involvement to boost reading and language development at home.
- Increasing book availability through school libraries.
- Addressing poverty-related barriers to learning.
- Identifying learners needing extra support and focusing on the primary-to-secondary transition with personalised assessments.
Official Statements & Responses
She described the initiative as setting clear expectations for action and giving schools the clarity sought after extensive reforms. Jane Morris of Governors Cymru Services welcomed the framework, noting it would help governing bodies monitor progress while allowing schools flexibility, provided it does not become an additional workload burden.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As a new government we have made education a key priority and we are taking decisive action to raise standards in our schools and give young people the skills they need to succeed.” — Anna Brychan — Anna Brychan