SL(6)344 – The Curriculum for Wales – Statements of What Matters Code

Background and Purpose

The Curriculum for Wales – Statements of What Matters Code (the “Code”) places a statutory duty on maintained schools and funded settings to ensure their design and planning of a curriculum under the Curriculum for Wales Framework includes, and draws from, the key concepts (or “statements of what matters”) set out in the Code. It updates and replaces the original version of the Code published on 15 November 2021 (the “Original Code”).

The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (the “2021 Act”) sets out the six areas of learning and experience on which maintained schools and funded settings must base their curriculum, namely expressive arts; health and well-being; humanities; languages, literacy and communication; mathematics and numeracy; and science and technology. The Code sets out 27 statements of what matters across those six areas. A curriculum designed or adopted by maintained schools and funded settings, and the associated learning and teaching, must encompass the statements of what matters in order to meet the requirements of the 2021 Act.

Procedure

Draft Negative.

The Welsh Ministers have laid a draft of the Code before the Senedd. If, within 40 days (excluding any days when the Senedd is: (i) dissolved, or (ii) in recess for more than four days) of the draft being laid, the Senedd resolves not to approve the draft Code then the Welsh Ministers must not issue the Code.

If no such resolution is made, the Welsh Ministers must issue the Code (in the form of the draft).

Scrutiny under Standing Order 21.7

The following point is identified for reporting under Standing Order 21.7(i) in respect of the Code.

1. The Explanatory Memorandum confirms (at paragraph 2.3) that the Welsh Government is currently updating the online Curriculum for Wales Framework Guidance in line with the revised draft Code. The guidance was originally published on 28 January 2020 incorporating the 27 statements of what matters as set out in the Original Code.

The Memorandum notes that the Government is updating the guidance now “to allow schools and settings greater time to draw on that advice to inform their curriculum design and planning through the 2022/23 academic year”.

Government response

A Welsh Government response is not required.

Legal Advisers

Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

25 April 2023