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Pembrokeshire Herald

16-05-2025

THE WELSH Conservatives' new education priorities have come under fire from a leading school leaders' union, which described the plans as 'tabloid headlines' disconnected from the real challenges facing Welsh schools.
Ahead of the party's conference in Llangollen on Friday (May 17), the Conservatives outlined a series of pledges that include banning mobile phones in classrooms, reintroducing home economics, and allowing schools to convert to academy status – a system currently used in England but not in Wales.
Laura Doel, national secretary of NAHT Cymru, was critical of the proposals, saying: 'The Welsh Conservatives' priorities read more like tabloid headlines than carefully considered policies for improving children's education. They are completely out of touch with reality.'
Doel argued that many of the proposals were unnecessary, pointing out that home economics remains part of the curriculum under different guises, and that most schools already have effective mobile phone policies. She also dismissed the call for academies, saying: 'Changing the name above a school doesn't change the quality of teaching or experience of the pupils in it.'
She added that the key concerns among school leaders remain unresolved: 'Our members' priorities are funding, the recruitment and retention of teachers, ALN reform, conditions of service for teachers and leaders, and support for small schools.'
However, some of the Conservative proposals may reflect broader concerns among parents and communities. Recent surveys have shown public unease about classroom discipline, digital distraction, and pupil safety – concerns the Conservatives appear keen to address with more uniform policy approaches.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Conservatives said their priorities were based on 'what parents are telling us,' and insisted that schools needed 'a clear framework for excellence, not excuses for underperformance.'
They added: 'We want to empower schools, ensure pupils are learning practical life skills, and put an end to the distractions that undermine classroom discipline.'
The debate comes as Welsh schools continue to adapt to the new Curriculum for Wales, amid ongoing concerns about funding pressures, teacher workloads, and falling attainment in some core subjects. A recent Estyn report found that while many schools are innovating effectively, others face 'significant challenges' in delivering consistent standards.
As the Welsh education debate heats up in the run-up to the next Senedd election, all parties are expected to face scrutiny over how they plan to address long-standing structural issues in the system.