Cardiff Comes Together To Share In Vision For Education
Hundreds of people have come together at City Hall for the official launch of ‘Cardiff 2020 – a renewed vision for education and learning in Cardiff’.
Leader of the City of Cardiff Council, Phil Bale delivered his vision for Cardiff as part of the launch in front of more than 400 guests, including those working in education and members of the city’s business community.
Speaking about the future growth of the city, with Cardiff’s population set to rise by 100,000 over the next 20 years, Cllr Bale said: “People choose to build their lives and careers here, to put down roots and start a family here. That’s why we are planning for a 25 percent increase in school age children over the next 10 years.
“We are going to need more schools and more teachers. We are already building the equivalent of two new primary schools every year and we will be building more. At a time of public sector austerity we are investing £169m in our schools.
“The improvements we have seen in exam results since 2012 is just the beginning. There is more work to do and Cardiff 2020 sets out our renewed vision.
“It is a vision built on a conversation with young people, thanks to the valuable contributions from over 300 members of the Cardiff Youth Council. We have to capture their energy, their dynamism and their creativity. They are the future of Cardiff. They are the reason we have all come together.
“Cardiff 2020 is a challenging vision and it is a shared vision, because we all have a part to play.
“Education doesn’t begin and end at the school and college gates. Education is everybody’s business.”
Commenting on the Cardiff 2020 launch, the council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “It was fantastic to see such a broad range of people, across all ages and from different walks of life, joining together to show their commitment to Cardiff 2020 and share in the renewed vision for education and learning in our city.
“From the very beginning Cardiff 2020 has been developed in partnership, with representatives from the public sector and private sector, from those working in education and those in business all actively involved.
“The vision will be put into action as a partnership. We will work together to make sure we deliver for the children and young people of Cardiff, accelerating educational achievement and ensuring they all have the opportunity to succeed.
“Central to Cardiff 2020 is the vision that all children and young people have a great school to go to, giving them the knowledge and skills they need. No one will be left behind. They will all be able to meet their potential.
“Education is on the up and, while there is still more to do, I am proud to see a strengthening picture.”
Cardiff 2020 builds on progress made to deliver improvement in education over recent years, setting out an ambitious programme.
The new strategy lists five key goals to deliver these aspirations:
- Excellent outcomes for all learners
- A high quality workforce
- 21st Century learning environments
- A self-improving school system
- Schools and Cardiff in partnership
The launch event’s key note speech was delivered by Professor Patricia Price, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Cardiff University. Professor Price is responsible for the University’s programmes of study, its academic standards and the quality of the student experience.
Cardiff 2020 is available for download from www.cardiff.gov.uk. Members of the public can join in the conversation about the continuing improvement in education and learning on Twitter using #EduCardiff.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email News@News.Wales
