Decision details

P-05-992 We call on the Welsh Government to create a common body of knowledge about Welsh history that all pupils will learn

This petition was submitted by Elfed Wyn Jones having collected a total of 7,927 signatures.

Text of Petition:                     

Welsh history is important to all pupils, as it provides the background of our nation's history and our heritage for everyone going through the education system. There are aspects of Welsh history, such as the Laws of Hywel Dda, the Glyndŵr Rising and the Drowning of Capel Celyn, which belong to every community in Wales. It is therefore concerning that the Welsh Government has decided to reject the recommendation by the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee to create a common body of knowledge for all pupils studying history. It's important to create a Welsh history curriculum where pupils learn abouts events and matters at a national level, as well as learning about the history of their communities and areas.

Status

This petition was considered completed by the Petitions Committee at its meeting on 15/12/2020.

The Committee agreed to note the contributions made during the Plenary debate on 4 November, the written responses received and the recommendation about Welsh history made by the CYPE Committee as part of its Stage 1 scrutiny report on the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill.

As a debate has now been held, scrutiny is being applied by another committee, and Estyn is conducting a review into the teaching of Welsh history, the Committee concluded that there is little further that could be achieved by the Petitions Committee at this time. It agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for his continued campaigning on this subject.

Full details of the consideration of this petitions by the committee and related documents can be seen on the Meetings tab above.

It was first considered by the Petitions Committee on 15/09/2020.

Senedd Constituency and Region

• Dwyfor Meirionnydd
• Mid and West Wales West

Further information

• The Petitions Committee homepage
• View all open petitions
• View all petitions the committee is currently considering
• How the petitions system works

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

·         write to Business Committee to seek time for a combined plenary debate on the petition and petition P-05-1000 Make it compulsory for Black and POC UK histories to be taught in the Welsh education curriculum;

·         write to the Minister for Education to ask for further details of the work being carried out to commission new resources to support the teaching of Welsh history under the new curriculum; and

·         write to Estyn to ask for details of the work they will be undertaking as part of their Review of Welsh history.