RAISE STANDARDS AND SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS

Plaid pledge ‘A new national mission on Literacy and Numeracy’

A Plaid Cymru government will deliver a bold, practical, and inclusive strategy to renew educational standards in Wales its education spokesperson will announce.

 

Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson, Cefin Campbell, announced the party’s new national mission on literacy and numeracy at the annual conference in Swansea on Saturday 11th October.

 

The plan will include:

 

• A Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan to set national benchmarks, provide targeted support, and ensure high-quality teaching with clear progress tracking. 

• A library in every primary school to give every child a dedicated space that promotes bilingualism and a lifelong love of reading. 

• Reading across the curriculum in secondary schools, embedding literacy into every subject and supporting pupils during the crucial transition from primary to secondary education.

 

A Plaid Cymru government will also invest in the future of Welsh education by offering fair, competitive incentives to attract and retain teachers – and progressively close the gap with England to ensure that trainee teachers in Wales are not financially disadvantaged for choosing to study and work here.

 

Plaid Cymru spokesperson on education Cefin Campbell MS will say,

 

“Labour’s failure to get even the basics right, in literacy and numeracy, our pupils are not fulfilling their potential.  

 

“But Plaid Cymru has a plan. We will ensure our pupils catch up and reach their potential, and we will raise educational standards all over Wales.  

 

“In response to deep, persistent and wide-ranging challenges in literacy and numeracy standards across Wales a Plaid Cymru Government will propose a series of overlapping and innovative solutions to get the basics right and raise standards in our schools. 

 

“A Plaid Cymru Government will develop a new Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan, a national strategy that is coherent, measurable, and equitable.  

 

“This is about ensuring every pupil, regardless of background, can reach their full potential. We will introduce national benchmarks for foundational skills in reading, writing, and numeracy. 

 

Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson will also say,

 

“But as I’ve said many times in recent years: how can our pupils succeed without a strong, well-supported workforce of brilliant teachers? 

 

“Under Labour’s watch, Wales is facing a crisis in teacher recruitment and retention. 

 

“That’s why I’m proud to announce that a Plaid Cymru government will invest in the future of Welsh education by offering fair, competitive incentives to attract and retain the teachers our schools need.  

 

By the end of the next Senedd term, our incentive offer will match what’s currently on offer in England, ensuring that trainee teachers in Wales are not financially penalised for choosing to study and work here. 

 

“We’ll launch a national campaign, Dewch i Ddysgu, to restore pride in the profession and inspire new entrants. 

 

“We cannot allow the next 25 years to mirror the failures of the last. We must raise standards and unlock every pupil’s potential. We must give every child the best possible start in life. We must provide new leadership for Wales.  That is our national mission. And Plaid Cymru will deliver it.

 

Senior Education Lecturer Dr Huw Griffiths from the Institute of Education at University of Wales Trinity Saint David said,

 

“I’m glad to see political party that’s ready to make a clear statement in tackling one of the biggest challenges of education in Wales.

 

“With the Republic of Ireland now among the best countries in the world in terms of literacy, there is no reason why Wales cannot emulate that.

 

“In my opinion, there is nothing that can compare to improving reading standards as a means of raising standards - this is the alpha and the omega.

 

A spokesperson for the Literacy Trust said,

 

"When children are encouraged to read for pleasure and have access to a wide variety of books, it can transform their lives, building confidence, enhancing wellbeing, improving their reading skills and academic performance. A love of reading is one of the most powerful predictors of future success, and school libraries are key to nurturing that love from an early age.

 

“Libraries for Primaries is working to ensure every primary school in the UK has a dedicated library space by 2029 breaking down barriers to access, promoting equality of opportunity, and helping to create vibrant, whole school reading cultures.

 

A well-resourced school library is more than just a room of books; it’s a gateway to imagination, knowledge, and lifelong learning that will benefit generations to come."

- ENDS -