For the first time Computer Science has also been added as a priority subject eligible for the highest level of incentive.

The incentives are:

• Graduates with a 1st (or a PhD / Masters) undertaking secondary postgraduate Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes in Mathematics, Welsh, Computer Science, physics and chemistry would receive the £20,000 incentive.
• Modern language students with a 1st (or a PhD / Masters) would receive a £15,000 incentive.
• To support students undertaking primary PGCE studies whose subject specialism is in English, Welsh, mathematics, computer science, physics or chemistry with a 1st degree classification (or a PhD / Masters) a £3,000 supplement in addition to the £3,000 incentive will be available.
• A new Welsh medium incentive of £5,000 will compliment arrangements for existing support under the Welsh Medium Improvement Scheme with up to £2,500 payable on successful completion of QTS and a further £2,500 payable on successful completion of induction in a Welsh-medium or bilingual secondary school, or on successful completion of induction teaching Welsh in any secondary setting.

Kirsty Williams said:

“It is impossible to overstate the importance of our teachers’ role in helping to succeed in our national mission to raise standards, reduce the attainment gap and deliver an education system that is a source of national pride and confidence.

“Our ambitious reforms need well-supported, high quality, aspirational teachers.  We must therefore attract and support the best graduates.  

“In Wales we experience challenges in recruiting to certain subjects and in certain geographical locations.  This is the challenge we must, and will, rise to.

“That us why I have decided to announce incentives for academic year 2018/19 early. We are providing clarity and assurance in our commitment to our newest teachers.”

The Education Secretary also revealed new incentives for Welsh-medium secondary school teachers:

“If we are to achieve the ambitious goal set out in Cymraeg 2050 then we need to increase the number of teachers who can teach bilingually, through the medium of Welsh and teach Welsh as a subject.

“Our recruitment for primary Welsh-medium teachers is broadly on track. However, to achieve our targets for secondary we need to increase recruitment to Welsh-medium ITE places each year to meet the target for increasing the number of secondary Welsh-medium teachers by 2021.

“I am announcing a new Welsh-medium incentive which will target secondary PGCE student teachers who are training to teach all subject specialisms through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.”

DiscoverTeaching.Wales (external link)

In a speech to higher education leaders and academics from across the UK, she outlined how Wales can lead the way on civic engagement and the role of universities in their communities.

The call takes forward Ms Williams’s challenge to universities to recapture their civic mission by doing more to connect campus, community and the country.

In the speech she said:

“The university as the link between the global and the local will be ever more in important as we meet the challenges of Bruit.

“Universities are global in their outlook, but they must be first and foremost being good stewards of their place and the people living there.

“This is how they will contribute to developing a confident, international and innovative Wales.”

Setting out actions for enhanced university-school links, the Education Secretary proposes that:

• Universities work directly with schools to support leadership development, financial management and attainment programmes;
• There should be a significant increase in the number of university senior managers and leaders on local school governing bodies;
• That there are more industry and undergraduate programmes in schools to promote learner opportunity and student experience in key disciplines, building on success in languages and coding.

Ms Williams also said:

“I would like to see Welsh universities pursuing ‘boundary spanning’ civic leadership.

“I want to see you working beyond the higher education sector and engaging with other key civic leaders at a national and community level. 

“Universities should use their expertise, experience and resources to deliver social innovation and civic engagement, building future leadership capacity, and supporting community and educational organisations. 

“Improving education is our national mission. Raising standards, reducing the attainment gap and deliver a system that enjoys public confidence and is a source of national pride.

“Our higher education sector must further contribute to this – going beyond preparing tomorrow’s teachers, important work though that is.”

The Education Secretary’s speech praised the activity underway in Welsh universities and cover four themes: leading place, the contribution to raising school standards, developing active citizenship and acting as the engine of social enterprise.

The Marine Energy Test Area (META) will include zones for research and development and a network of seabed areas where marine energy developers can deploy and test their technology.

The investment aims to attract more companies to Wales by lowering the risks of developing marine technology and supporting developers, supply-chain businesses and universities involved in marine energy projects.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford, said: 

“We want Wales to be at the forefront of research and innovation in the marine energy field so I’m delighted to announce more than £1m of EU funds to help create this test area.

“It’s a very exciting time for marine energy in Wales and this initiative is another major step in building a thriving industry in Pembrokeshire and in Wales. We are committed to attracting developers from around the world to Welsh waters.”

The Milford Haven test area will become a showcase for Wales’ marine energy sector and forms part of the wider £76m Pembroke Dock Marine scheme, which is one of 11 projects included in the Swansea Bay City Deal.

The scheme will help to develop Pembrokeshire as a world-class centre for marine energy development, fabrication, testing and deployment.

The META investment follows last month’s announcement of £4.5m of EU and Welsh Government funding to develop the Morlais Demonstration Zone for tidal energy projects off the Anglesey coast.

Building on these investments, a delegation from the Welsh Government and Wales’ marine energy sector will be selling Wales to the world at this week’s Ocean Energy Europe event in Nantes, France where leading figures from the global marine sector will assemble.

David Jones, project director of Marine Energy Wales, said: 

“After discussing the META concept with industry over the last few years, we are pleased to secure the finance and support to now move towards delivery.

“Marine energy has already had a positive impact on our peripheral economies in Wales, supported local supply chain clustering and diversification and we see META contributing to the continued cost reduction currently being delivered by the sector.”

The Welsh Government’s ‘Baby Teeth DO Matter’ campaign was launched to raise the awareness of the importance of adopting healthy dental habits early to prevent tooth decay.

The message to parents is:

• Children should start having their  teeth brushed as soon as the first teeth  come through at 6 months
• Brush teeth last thing at night before going to bed and one other time during the day
• Use a smear of family fluoride toothpaste
• Take children to the dentist before the age of one and the whole family should be having routine dental check ups
• Reduce the amount and frequency of sugary foods and drinks in diet from the weaning stage.

Speaking after the visit Vaughan Gething said:

“While we’ve seen improvements in oral health in Wales, 35% of young children are still affected by tooth decay by age 5. This number is much higher in Merthyr Tydfil where I am visiting today.

“Dental decay is preventable and this needs to improve. Our Designed to Smile programme is making a real impact in improving the oral health of children across Wales. It has recently been revamped as we know it is what is happening every day at home that really matters. It now includes more help for dental practice teams to get involved with babies, very young children and their parents to ensure the positive progress made so far continues.

“Small changes will make a big difference for our young people’s oral health. Let’s look after their teeth and make sure they have got something to smile about in the future.”

Chief Dental Officer Dr Colette Bridgman said: 

“Baby teeth are very important to a child’s health and development. 

“Having decayed teeth  can affect children’s ability to eat, sleep, can lead to pain and infection and being admitted to hospital for general anaesthetic. Dental decay is preventable.

“Looking after teeth needs to start as soon as they appear in a baby’s mouth. Many people think that baby teeth don’t matter because the teeth will fall out anyway and be replaced with a second set. 

“They do matter, when baby teeth are lost too early, apart from the pain and suffering caused for the child  the space available for the second teeth can be reduced. This can make permanent teeth crooked or crowded. 

“Dental practice teams can advise on how to look after your child’s teeth. They can offer early care and advise to help keep teeth healthy and they are encouraging and want all parents of very young children to get checked that is why this campaign is so very important.”

The virus has been detected in post import checks in a number of cattle imported from France.  

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) successfully picked up the infected animals through the post-import testing regime.

Action is being taken to ensure there is no spread of the disease. APHA is working closely with the livestock keepers affected to ensure that swift action is taken to prevent spread of the disease, with movement restrictions at affected premises, targeted surveillance and the humane culling of animals where necessary.

Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Christianne Glossop said:

“Following the identification of bluetongue virus in imported cattle I’d like to remind Welsh farmers to be vigilant for signs of the disease.  

“Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but can have a severe impact on affected farms.  I’d ask farmers to consider very carefully the risks which come with bringing animals from disease-affected areas into their herds.

“It is encouraging the robust disease surveillance procedures that we have in place in the UK have worked but the identification offers a timely reminder to farmers for the need to remain vigilant.”