Every day in classrooms across Wales, dedicated teachers and teaching assistants go the extra mile to share knowledge, build life skills and inspire their students. We are committed to supporting and working in partnership with our education workforce – ensuring that teaching is a respected, attractive and rewarding career.
To achieve this, a Plaid Cymru government will work with the profession to:
- Reduce workload by cutting unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy.
- Provide clearer guidance and resources on curriculum design, giving teachers greater confidence in what they are expected to teach, and what learners are expected to achieve.
- Increase flexibility in teaching contracts, including for ongoing professional development.
We will ensure high-quality opportunities for professional development are available to all educators, including expanded opportunities for Welsh language learning.
We will improve terms and conditions for supply teachers and work with schools, local authorities and other social partners to develop sustainable alternatives to the current agency-led model.
We know there is a critical shortage of qualified teachers in key subjects – including science, maths and modern foreign languages – as well as a need for more teachers able to deliver education through the medium of Welsh.
In addition to improved conditions for teachers and new opportunities for professional development, a Plaid Cymru government will offer more competitive incentives to attract and retain the next generation of teachers. We will progressively close the gap with England so trainee teachers in Wales are not financially disadvantaged for choosing to study and work here.
By 2030, Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Priority Subject Incentives in Wales will match those in England, with up to £30,000 available for the highest-priority subjects – double the current £15,000.
To ensure this public investment delivers long-term benefits for Welsh schools, we will require those receiving bursaries to remain teaching in Wales for up to five years, building on successful models used within the Welsh NHS.