Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Kirsty Williams MS, Minister for Education. The Business Committee remitted the Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee.

 

About the Bill

 

The purpose of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill was to establish a new and reformed legislative framework to support the implementation of new curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales.

 

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

 

Current Stage

BillStageAct

 

The Act became law in Wales on 29 April 2021. An explanation of the various stages of Welsh Parliament Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

 

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

 

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Welsh Parliament.

 

Stage

Documents

Bill introduced: 6 July 2020

Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, as introduced (PDF 217KB)

 

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 2.99MB)

 

Statement of Policy Intent for Subordinate Legislation, direction making powers and guidance (PDF 452KB)

 

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 6 July 2020 (PDF 113KB)

 

Business Committee - Timetable for consideration of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill – 9 July 2020 (PDF, 59KB)

 

Bill Summary (PDF 1MB)

 

Bilingual Glossary (PDF 542KB)

 

Stage 1: Committee considerations of general principles

 

The Children, Young People and Education Committee agreed its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 9 June 2020.

 

The Children, Young People and Education Committee agreed to collect the following evidence to inform its Stage 1 scrutiny:

 

The Children, Young People and Education Committee considered the Bill on the following dates: 

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of Meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

9 June 2020

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny

Private

Private

14 July 2020

Evidence session

Transcript

View meeting

 

Additional Information following the session:

Minister for Education (PDF 605KB)

 

20 July 2020

Evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

17 September 2020

Evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

 

Additional Information following the session:

Qualifications Wales (PDF 241KB)

Estyn (PDF 199KB)

Mudiad Meithrin (PDF 237KB)

 

24 September 2020

Evidence session

Transcript

View meeting

 

Additional Information following the session:

Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) (PDF 161KB)

National Association of Headteachers Cymru (NAHT) (PDF 122KB)

NASUWT (PDF 164KB)

National Education Union Cymru (PDF 185KB)

Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru (UCAC) (Welsh only) (PDF 436KB)

Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru (UCAC) Senedd restricted: translation for internal use only

 

1 October 2020

Virtual engagement event (invitee only)

Private

Private

8 October 2020

Evidence session

Transcript

View meeting

 

Additional Information following the session:

Children’s Commissioner for Wales (PDF 535KB)

Brooke, NSPCC, Professor EJ Renold, Stonewall Cymru and Welsh Women’s Aid (PDF 293KB)

Welsh Language Commissioner (PDF 278KB)

 

15 October 2020

Evidence session

Transcript

View meeting

 

Additional Information following the session:

Catholic Education Service (PDF432KB)

Church in Wales (PDF 147KB)

 

21 October 2020

Evidence session

Transcript

View meeting

 

Additional Information following the session:

Minister for Education (PDF 473KB)

 

Stage 1 Correspondence

 

Welsh Government

 

Letter from the Minister for Education to the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee regarding the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill Committee Stage 1 Report – 9 December 2020 (PDF 281KB)

 

Letter to the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee from the Minister for Education - additional information for the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill following the meeting on 21 October - 5 November 2020  (PDF473KB)

 

Letter from the Minister for Education to the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee regarding revisions to the Explanatory Memorandum – 1 September 2020 (PDF 273KB)

 

Letter from the Minister for Education to the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee regarding the Bill’s provisions as they relate to Religion, Values and Ethics (“RVE”) and Relationships and Sexuality Education (“RSE”) – 12 August 2020 (PDF 605KB)

 

Letter from the Minister for Education to the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee regarding the Bill’s financial implications – 4 August 2020 (PDF 187KB)

 

Letter to the Minister for Education from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee regarding the Bill’s financial implications – 22 July 2020  (PDF 119KB)

 

Letter to the Minister for Education from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee seeking information on the Bill’s provisions as they relate to Religion, Values and Ethics (“RVE”) and Relationships and Sexuality Education (“RSE”) – 21 July 2020  (PDF 230KB)

 

Letter from the Minister for Education to Suzy Davies MS regarding the role of the RSE Working Group – 20 July 2020 (PDF 288KB)

 

Committee Stage 1 Report

 

The Committee laid its report (PDF, 259MB) on 4 December 2020.

 

Welsh Government response to the Children, Young People and Education Committee report (PDF, 496KB)

 

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee considered the Bill on the following date:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of Meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

 

5 October 2020

 

 

Oral evidence

 

Transcript

 

View meeting

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF, 1.26MB) on the Bill on 4 December 2020. 

 

Welsh Government response to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee report (PDF, 376KB)

 

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following date:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of Meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

21 September 2020

Oral evidence session 

 Transcript

 View meeting

 

The Finance Committee laid its report (628KB) on the Bill on 4 December 2020.

 

Welsh Government response to the Finance Committee report (PDF, 396KB)

 

­­­Stage 1: Debate in Plenary on general principles

A debate took place in Plenary on 15 December 2020. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

Financial Resolution

 

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 15 December 2020.

 

Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

Stage 2: Committee consideration of amendments

Stage 2 began on 16 December 2020.

 

The Children, Young People and Education Committee agreed on 14 January 2021, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings would be:

 

Sections 2 – 8; Section 1; Sections 10 – 18; Section 9; Sections 20 – 27; Section 19; Sections 29 – 32; Schedule 1; Sections 33 – 38; Section 28; Sections 40 – 50; Section 39; Sections 52 – 57; Section 51; Sections 58 – 59; Sections 61 – 63; Section 60; Sections 64 – 69; Schedule 2; Sections 70 – 80; Long title

 

Notice of amendments – 16 December 2020

Purpose and Effect table – 16 December 2020

Notice of amendments – 20 January 2021

Purpose and Effect table – 20 January 2021

Notice of amendments – 22 January 2021

Marshalled list of amendments – 29 January 2021 v2

Groupings of Amendments – 29 January 2021 v2

 

Stage 2 consideration took place in committee on 29 January 2021.

 

Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2

Printing Changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2

Revised Explanatory Memorandum

Bill Summary – Stage 2

Stage 3: Plenary consideration of amendments

 

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 1 February 2021.

 

Notice of amendments – 16 February 2021

Notice of amendments – 18 February 2021

Notice of amendments – 19 February 2021

Purpose and Effect table – 19 February 2021

Notice of amendments – 22 February 2021

Notice of amendments – 23 February 2021

Marshalled list of amendments – 2 March 2021 v2

Groupings of amendments – 2 March 2021 v2

 

The order of consideration for Stage 3 amendments was agreed in Plenary on Tuesday 23 February. Under Standing Order 26.36, it was agreed that Stage 3 amendments would be disposed of in the following order:

 

Sections 2 - 8; Section 1; Sections 10 - 18; Section 9; Sections 20 - 25; Section 19; Sections 27 - 30; Schedule 1; Sections 31 - 36; Section 26; Sections 38 - 48; Section 37; Sections 50 - 55; Section 49; Sections 56 - 57; Sections 59 - 61; Section 58; Sections 62 - 71; Schedule 2; Sections 72 - 83; Long title.

 

Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 2 March 2021.

 

Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3

Printing Changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 3

 

Stage 4: Passing of the Bill in Plenary

The Bill was agreed by the Senedd on 9 March 2021.

 

Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, as passed

Post-stage 4

 

The Secretary of State for Wales and the Counsel General wrote to the Llywydd to advise that they would not be referring the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 or 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

 

Royal Assent

Royal Assent was given on 29 April 2021.

 

 

Contact information

Clerk: Llinos Madeley

Phone: 0300 200 6565

 

Postal address:

Welsh Parliament

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff

CF99 1SN

 

Email: SeneddCYPE@senedd.wales

 

Business type: Legislation

Reason considered: Government Business;

First published: 03/07/2020

Documents

Consultations