
Private firms and universities among organisations getting share of £44m to help schools in Wales
Private firms and universities among organisations getting share of £44m to help schools in Wales
The cash is for projects to improve science, maths and literacy in schools over the next three years
Funding is being made available to improve schools in Wales
(Image: PA )
Private companies and universities are among bodies awarded a share of more than £44m in Welsh Government funding to improve subjects including literacy, numeracy and science in schools.
The money is being awarded in grants for projects "to support key priorities in education in Wales" in the next three years. Wales has fared badly compared to other UK nations in these subjects in international tests for teenagers. Grants have been awarded to a range of organisations from the third and public sector, universities and private companies in order to "give schools and settings the expertise, training and materials they need", the Welsh Government said.
Details of who has been awarded the grants, and what for, are expected to be published later today (Tuesday, June 3). Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
The funding is expected to go towards the following:
Helping children make better progress in maths and numeracy
Boosting science teaching
Helping schools design "an engaging and challenging" curriculum for pupils
Continuing the national music service, providing music opportunities for children
Nursery education
Nationally consistent support and expertise for relationships and sexuality education for the whole of Wales and ;
Helping children develop creativity
Cabinet Minister for education Lynne Neagle
Article continues below
Education Minister Lynne Neagle is also calling for further grant proposals inviting applications for up to £11.9 million from suitable organisations to fund projects in:
Building children's computing and digital skills
Developing maths in primary schools
Literacy to improve attainment in speech, language and reading
Making the announcement, Ms Neagle said: "This is a huge investment in high-quality, nationally consistent support for all our schools.
Article continues below
" We are helping schools to ramp up investment in literacy and numeracy standards, challenge and engage with their learners across the curriculum and maintain our record investment in music education – so every child, whatever their background, can experience the joy of music."
'I'm also pleased to be announcing a new call for proposals for national support on literacy, primary maths, computing and digital skills.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Tommy Robinson back in court for harassment – just nine days after he was released from prison
IN THE DOCK Tommy Robinson back in court for harassment – just nine days after he was released from prison TOMMY Robinson is back in court today for harassment - just days after he was released from prison. The far-Right activist - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - is accused of targeting two journalists. Advertisement 5 Tommy Robinson is back in court today Credit: Reuters 5 He was surrounded by supporters as he made his way into Westminster Magistrates' Court Credit: Reuters 5 It comes after he was released from jail nine days ago Credit: PA Robinson has arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a hearing. The 42-year-old, who was clutching a microphone, was surrounded by supporters. He is charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence between August 5 and 7, 2024. It comes just nine days after Robinson was released from prison after a judge ruled he could be freed four months early. Advertisement He was locked up for 18 months in October for contempt of court. Robinson had made multiple breaches of an injunction in 2021, which barred him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel. He was pictured leaving HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire sporting a full beard and rosary. He was filmed speaking on his X social media channel for around 20 minutes. Advertisement When asked how he was feeling, Robinson declared: "Unfortunately the country doesn't believe in free speech." He also said he would organise a free speech festival in London for supporters later in the year. Robinson is facing a separate trial in October next year over an accusation that he failed to provide the Pin for his mobile phone when stopped by Kent Police in Folkestone in July 2024. 5 Robinson appeared more clear-shaven today Credit: AFP Advertisement


Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Housing plan in tiny Welsh village finally gets go-ahead after 5 years
Housing plan in tiny Welsh village finally gets go-ahead after 5 years Five letters of objection raised concerns including drainage, traffic generation, housing need, flooding and it being a linear development Hayscastle Cross in Pembrokeshire (Image: Google ) A housing scheme in a Pembrokeshire village, first proposed five years ago, has finally been given the green light. An application was submitted for the construction of one dwelling, with additional outline permission for two more on land east of Ty Gwyn in Hayscastle Cross, near Haverfordwest. The proposal was recommended for approval at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire Council's planning committee, despite being contrary to the authority's development plan, due to a small part of it being outside the settlement boundary. The scheme includes a contribution to affordable housing, set at 10 per cent of the development value for Hayscastle Cross, amounting to £15,262.50. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Contributions towards affordable housing in the county can range from as low as 5% in Fishguard and Pembroke Dock to as high as 25% in towns like Narberth. However, the proposal did not go unchallenged, with five letters of objection. Article continues below These raised concerns about drainage, traffic generation, housing need, flooding and the linear nature of the development. Despite these objections, an officer report concluded: "The proposal would result in residential development over a small area of the countryside location in conflict with the requirements [of policies]. "However, the minimal area of land involved and the ability it provides to facilitate development of the site are material considerations which outweigh the identified policy conflicts." At the meeting, Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd expressed his surprise at the lengthy process since the application's submission five years ago, citing "a lot of hurdles" including the Covid-19 pandemic, phosphate concerns, and proximity to a nearby SSSI. He argued that the development, with its £15,000 contribution to affordable housing, would "enhance this little bit of Haycastle Cross". Councillor Brian Hall moved the application, while new committee chair Cllr Mark Carter, representing a nearby ward, remarked: "This to me, is just a natural progression of the village which has expanded over the years; it's just joining the rest of the row." Article continues below The proposal received unanimous backing from the committee members. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice

Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Delyn MS provides updates from across North East Wales
MS for Delyn It was recess last week in the Senedd, which gave me the chance to get out and about in North East Wales – and it was interesting to see the response from the ban on disposable vapes coming into effect. My first job in government was back in 2017 when, as Minister for the Environment, I kicked off the process to ban single-use plastics in Wales, as part of a wider effort to tackle plastic pollution, reduce litter and landfill and move Wales towards a circular economy – the law finally came into effect in 2023. The recent disposable vapes ban takes that legislation a stage further – littering spoils our communities, introduces harmful substances into soil, rivers and streams and causes harm to biodiversity and many people will have seen discarded vapes lying around, so I wholeheartedly support this ban. Regular readers will know that I've been learning Welsh for some time, so it was good to hear about the boost to the language this week – after a two-year study by the Commission for Welsh Speaking Communities, the Welsh Government has accepted several proposals to protect Welsh as a community language. As the commission says, Welsh is a national language that belongs to us all – whoever we are, wherever we live or however much of the language we speak – so efforts to protect the language for future generations, as well as the target of increasing the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050 as laid out in the Cymraeg 2050 action plan, gets my full support. This week is Volunteers Week, an annual campaign to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers in our communities and to highlight the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK. Our communities have a real debt to the people who give up their time to volunteer and, along with all the grassroots organisations which rely on volunteers, Volunteers Week is a good time to simply say 'thank you'. I am grateful to all those across our communities who give up their time to help others and our corner of North Wales wouldn't be the same without them. It was recently announced that free period products are now available in even more public spaces across Wales, thanks to the Welsh Government's £3.2m Period Dignity Fund. From schools and colleges to libraries, leisure centres, food banks, sports clubs and youth hubs, essential period products are now freely accessible to thousands. With the aim to eradicate period poverty by 2027, no one should have to miss out on education, work or social life due to a lack of access to period products. Our local authority, Flintshire County Council, has introduced 'reusable period product parties', which have made a practical difference, providing free reusable kits and encouraging open, everyday conversations about menstrual health. These efforts are part of a wider plan to tackle period poverty and improve access to menstrual health support across Wales. More locally, Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC) has recently opened applications for its Youth Led Grants – if you are aged between 14 and 25 and full of ideas to make a difference in your community, then these grants of £250 to £1,000 are now available to help you kickstart youth-led volunteering projects here in North East Wales. Whether you're passionate about tackling poverty, boosting mental health, protecting the environment or celebrating Welsh culture – FLVC want to hear from you. Funded projects should support one or more of the Well-being of Future Generations Act goals and money can be used for equipment, materials or anything needed to get your idea off the ground – to find out more, call Heather Hicks on 01352 754004 or email or info@ And on the funding theme, congratulations are in order for two local organisations which have secured National Lottery Community Fund grants. Daffodils in Mold, a charity which supports disabled and additional needs children and their families, has secured £20,000 which will help to create a weekly two-hour youth club in Sychdyn, monthly tenpin bowling and swimming sessions at the Jade Jones Pavilion and a festive Christmas party. Also, Cilcain village hall has been awarded a grant to install solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the village hall – Cilcain is an active and lively village with real community spirit and the village hall is very much the hub of the community. Llongyfarchiadau to both organisations! As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don't hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don't need to wait for an advice surgery.