The Welsh Conservatives have accused the UK Labour Education Secretary, Bridgette Phillipson, of “copying The Welsh Conservatives’ homework” in her recent announcement of changes on curriculum changes in England.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Natasha Asghar MS has pointed out that the concept of teaching essential life skills, such as financial planning and budgeting has already been announced as policy by the Welsh Conservatives on multiple occasions.
Ms Asghar also criticised the new curriculum plans for mirroring the controversial education reforms rolled out in Wales and Scotland, reforms that have been widely condemned for lowering standards and removing academic rigour.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Natasha Asghar MS, said:
“The only good element in Labour’s curriculum changes was the inclusion of essential life skills, an idea copied directly from the Welsh Conservatives.
“This is typical Labour, stealing an idea from the Conservatives and repackaging it as their own. The rest of Labour’s proposals are a carbon copy of Welsh Labour’s failed education reforms, which have left Wales languishing at the bottom of international league tables and seen standards decline year after year.”
“The Welsh Conservatives have long called for a stronger focus on core academic excellence alongside improving discipline and teaching vital life skills to prepare pupils for the real world.”
