Decision details

The item started at 16.40

NDM5031 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes:

a) that numeracy is a fundamental skill;

b) that there is an urgent need to raise standards of numeracy with a commitment from all sectors of education to delivering this objective;

c) the Welsh Government's intention to publish a National Numeracy Programme to significantly raise levels of attainment in numeracy in order to support the education sector and learners to raise numeracy standards.

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new sub-point b) and renumber accordingly:

That, under the 2009 PISA assessment, Wales ranks 40th out of 67 countries for mathematics.

 

Amendment 1 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Voting on the motion and the remaining amendments under this item were deferred until Voting Time

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

In sub-point b), after 'need to' insert 'respond to the long-standing issue of numeracy standards in Wales, which has not been tackled by previous education Ministers, in order to'

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

In sub-point b), after 'commitment from' insert 'the Welsh government and'

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
51	0	0	51

Amendment 3 was agreed.

 

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add as new sub-point at end of motion:

 

the continuing correlation between deprivation and the levels of attainment in numeracy. 

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
50	0	0	50

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

Amendment 5 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Regrets that after twelve continuous years of Labour education Ministers in power, standards of numeracy have declined.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 6 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Acknowledges the crucial role which parents and guardians can play in working with the education sector to improve standards of numeracy amongst Wales’ children and young people.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
51	0	0	51

Amendment 6 was agreed.

 

Amendment 7 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Regrets the failure of successive Welsh Governments to adequately raise numeracy standards in Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
18	7	26	51

Amendment 7 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 8 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes the Welsh Government’s position that it is unrealistic to expect significant improvements in Wales’ performance in the next PISA assessments suggests a lack of urgency in driving up numeracy standards in Wales.

 

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
23	0	26	49

Amendment 8 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 9 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Minister to set clear targets for improvement in mathematics in the 2012 PISA results.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

Amendment 9 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 10 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the investment provided by the pupil deprivation grant, which will help to improve numeracy in schools.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 10:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
31	7	13	51

Amendment 10 was agreed.

 

Amendment 11 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh government to extend the pupil deprivation grant in its following year to continue to help improve numeracy in school.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 11:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	7	39	51

Amendment 11 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM5031 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes:

a) that numeracy is a fundamental skill;

b) that, under the 2009 PISA assessment, Wales ranks 40th out of 67 countries for mathematics.

 

c) that there is an urgent need to raise standards of numeracy with a commitment from the Welsh government and all sectors of education to delivering this objective;

 

d) the Welsh Government's intention to publish a National Numeracy Programme to significantly raise levels of attainment in numeracy in order to support the education sector and learners to raise numeracy standards;

 

e) the continuing correlation between deprivation and the levels of attainment in numeracy;

 

2.  Acknowledges the crucial role which parents and guardians can play in working with the education sector to improve standards of numeracy amongst Wales’ children and young people.

3.  Welcomes the investment provided by the pupil deprivation grant, which will help to improve numeracy in schools.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
51	0	0	51

The motion as amended was agreed.