This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-33315050

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Schools in Wales face fewer tests in radical shake-up 'Pioneer' schools lead biggest shake-up since 1980s
(about 11 hours later)
Schools face fewer tests and will get more freedom over what to teach as the education minister announces a radical shake-up of lessons. Schools in Wales will be invited to become "pioneers", helping to ensure a radical shake-up of lessons.
Huw Lewis will give his response to a review by Prof Graham Donaldson, which called for major curriculum changes. Education Minister Huw Lewis said he was accepting the recommendations of a review by Prof Graham Donaldson, which called for major curriculum changes.
They include fewer tests, scrapping the "key stages" system and a greater focus on computing and IT.
There have been suggestions the changes could take a decade to implement.
They are the biggest since the national curriculum was introduced in the late 1980s.
'Shape the future'
Mr Lewis said he was "not rushing to set out a timetable", with more details being announced in the autumn.
He told AMs: "Pioneer schools, working with experts from Wales and internationally, will help to shape the future of learning in Wales.
"I am clear that the [teaching] profession must play a central part in the design and development of our new curriculum.
"It will ask an enormous amount of the professionals in the system. But I am confident they are keen and able to take on this challenge."
Prof Donaldson's recommendations included:
A plan to boost children's computing skills has already been announced.A plan to boost children's computing skills has already been announced.
Earlier in June, Mr Lewis said he accepted the Donaldson review, saying the changes that would result could take eight years to implement. Schools in Wales will still be expected to follow a central curriculum rather than be given the wider freedom granted to academies in England.
Among the recommendations were: 'Warm words'
However, schools in Wales will still be expected to follow a central curriculum rather than be given the wider freedom granted to academies in England. Plaid education spokesman Simon Thomas said: "Only this morning, Plaid Cymru called for a system of 'model' schools to lead the innovation around the new curriculum and for training teachers.
Mr Lewis will give his official response to the review in a statement to the assembly on Tuesday. "It is good to see the government is thinking along the same lines but these schools must be resourced appropriately and be part of the design of the implementation not just a test bed."
Liberal Democrat Aled Roberts warned "warm words from Labour ministers don't always translate into firm action", promising to "continue to scrutinise this process to ensure the best result for pupils and teachers".