The Minister for Education inspires the next generation of classroom teachers

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) was delighted to welcome the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams, to an online event hosted by the university’s Yr Athrofa: Centre for Education to inspire the next generation of classroom teachers.

The Minister for Education thanked student teachers for stepping up to support schools during the Coronavirus pandemic, adding that there was “never a better time to join the profession to build back from the Coronavirus pandemic and shape the lives of children and young people in Wales.”

She also took part in a live question and answer session with more than 350 student-teachers, staff and colleagues from partner schools. Together, this group makes up the Athrofa Professional Learning Partnership (APLP), a unique collaboration transforming teacher education in the south Wales region, comprising schools from Pembrokeshire in the west to Monmouthshire in the east.

Addressing the students, Kirsty Williams said: “You are about to enter into a profession that will have a profound impact, not only on your life but on the life of thousands of children.

“Through your professionalism and skill set, you will transform those children and give them what they need to become successful adults and live successful and productive lives in our communities. During challenging times remember what a privilege and what an opportunity you have. An opportunity to change one life is immense, but you have the opportunity to change many. When you change those lives for the better, you are changing the future of our country for the better.”

The Minister said student-teachers would also have a significant role to play in the development of the new curriculum, which has been supported by Athrofa lecturers who were commissioned by the Welsh Government to develop Wales’ understanding of learner progression.

“The curriculum itself will be a huge tool in helping us support children post Covid,” she said. “Its focus on empowering headteachers and classroom practitioners to design a curriculum that truly meets the needs of their students in front of them, I believe, gives us an opportunity to address many of the challenges that Covid 19 will have brought to us.”

Anna Brychan, Assistant Dean of the University’s Institute of Education and Humanities said: “We were delighted to be able to welcome the Minister to meet our students, albeit virtually this time. Our student-teachers were able to ask questions from the detail of curriculum implementation, the quality of the experience for learners during the pandemic, and their own hopes and aspirations for a career which, as the minister herself said, is among the few which can change the lives of others. We were particularly pleased that the Minister also thanked our partner schools for their enormous commitment and hard work during this difficult period and the way in which they, the students and the university have worked creatively together to support learning and training over the last year.”

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk