1. 1 DCELLS All Wales Schools Key Skills Network “ The only way to improve outcomes is to improve instruction” Source: How the world’s best-performing school systems come out on top Mckinsey, September 2007 NOVEMBER 19 TH, 2008

2. 2 ESTYN - KEY SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS AT KEY STAGE FOUR (non WBQ schools) RECOMMENDATIONS Schools:  Develop a whole-school strategy and a clear sense of direction for developing pupils’ key skills;  Involve all subject departments more actively in key skills developments;  Give teachers adequate administrative support to help manage portfolios; and  Promote the benefits of key skills development to pupils and design relevant key skills work that fits with their other studies Source: Estyn, November 2008

3. 3 Awarding Bodies:  Continue to streamline the work in compiling, assessing and moderating key skill portfolios, while maintaining reliability. Source: Estyn, November 2008 RECOMMENDATIONS

4. 4 The Welsh Assembly Government:  provide guidance on how pupils’ work across the curriculum could be used more effectively to generate evidence for key skills portfolios. Source: Estyn, November 2008

5. 5 PISA 2006 READING - UK  OECD mean491  UK mean495  Total number of countries57  Number of countries higher18  Significantly higher than UK12  No significant difference to UK10  UK no different to OECD average Source: DCELLS, September 2008

6. 6 PISA READING - WALES  United Kingdom495  Scotland499  England496  Northern Ireland495  Wales481 Wales was:  Significantly below OECD average  ‘Bottom’ in UK  ‘Rank’ 30 if we inserted separate UK Country results in the list Source: DCELLS, September 2008

7. 7 PISA MATHEMATICS  OECD mean498  UK mean494  Total number of countries57  Number of countries higher23  Significantly higher than UK21  No significant difference to UK6  UK no different to OECD average Source: DCELLS, September 2008

8. 8 PISA MATHS - WALES  United Kingdom498  Scotland506  England495  Northern Ireland 494  Wales484 Wales was:  Significantly below OECD average  ‘Bottom’ in UK  ‘Rank’ 34 if we inserted separate UK country results in the list Source: DCELLS, September 2008

9. 9 Best-Performance Features Three underpinning principles:  The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers  The only way to raise performance is to improve instruction  Achieving universally high outcomes is only possible by putting in place mechanisms to ensure high-quality teaching to every learner. Source: Mckinsey & Company, September 2007 ‘How the world’s best-performing school system come out on top’

10. 10 ESSENTIAL RATIONALE  In the interest of all learners  Clarity  Excellence – WAG and Estyn  Performance improvement  Harmonized national strategy  Aligned with: Revised Curriculum, WBQ and Learning Pathways  Literacy and numeracy

11. 11 ESSENTIAL SUPPORT Essential Skills Support Programme: Some priorities: Training and events Briefings/networks Resources Practitioner expertise Good practice (teaching and learning) CPD

12. 12 Source DCELLS: Nov. 08

13. 13 To contact us Jeff Moses: Essential Skills – Schools, LIPDD, DCELLS. Email/e-bost: jeff.moses@wales.gsi.gov.ukjeff.moses@wales.gsi.gov.uk Ty'r Llyn, Clos Llyn Cwm, Swansea Enterprise Park, Swansea SA6 8AH Tel/Ffôn: 01792 765 927