Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
I am today launching a 14 week consultation on strengthening the School Organisation Code in respect of a presumption against closure of rural schools. This means that the case for closure must be strong, and the decision to consult and move forward with closure is not taken until all viable alternatives have been conscientiously considered, including federation.  We are ensuring that every school and community, no matter where they are based, receives a fair hearing.  

  

In order to have a presumption against closure of rural schools it is necessary to define a rural school for that specific purpose. For the first time, the Welsh Government is establishing a definition of rural schools and publishing a list of rural schools. When local authorities, or other proposers consider closing a school, they will need to check whether the school is on the list and the further requirements set out in the Code apply.  The consultation therefore seeks views on proposals for an appropriate designation.  

  

The School Organisation Code underpins the provisions introduced by the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013\. Taken together, the changes introduced by the Act and the Code have accelerated the school organisation process by ensuring that, wherever possible, decisions are taken at the local level.  We have reviewed the Code following three years of operation and proposed a number of changes reflecting on feedback and learning over that period.  The consultation will seek views on these and provide an opportunity for consultees to provide other comments on the Code.    

  

The consultation has been published on the Welsh Government’s website and brought to the attention of key stakeholders including schools and local authorities.  I look forward to receiving Assembly Members’ responses to the consultation and urge them to encourage parents, teachers and communities within their constituencies to respond.


https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/school\-organisation\-code\-0  

  

In my Oral Statement in Plenary last November I set out a number of other actions I would be taking in respect of small and rural schools.  These actions will support our wider aim to strengthen and extend school to school relationships and prioritise education leadership.  They recognise that schools and communities in different parts of Wales face different challenges as we move forward with our reforms to raise education standards and reduce the attainment gap.    

  

As of April 2017, we have introduced a new £2\.5 m per annum grant to promote innovation and raise standards in small and rural schools in Wales.  Local authorities will administer the grant on behalf of the Welsh Government and have been advised of their allocations and submitted their plans for expenditure at the end of May.  We are currently in the process of assessing those plans and how they will benefit small and rural schools, in line with the key purposes of the grant, which are:  

  

• to encourage innovation (for example the use of new digital technologies to combat the issue of professional isolation by harnessing the power of IT).  

• to support greater school to school working including collaboration and federation to raise standards;  

• to provide administrative support in schools where the headteacher has a significant timetabled teaching commitment; and  

• to increase the community use of school buildings.  

  

Effective school to school working is the cornerstone of the Welsh Government’s strategy to raise educational attainment and a key focus for the small and rural schools grant.    

  

I will keep you informed of progress over the coming months.  

  

  

 







Translation:


 
Heddiw rwy’n lansio ymgynghoriad 14 wythnos ar gryfhau’r Cod Trefniadaeth Ysgolion mewn perthynas â rhagdybiaeth na chaiff ysgolion gwledig eu cau. Mae hyn yn golygu bod yn rhaid i’r achos dros gau ysgol wledig fod yn un cryf, ac ni fydd y penderfyniad i ymgynghori a’i chau yn cael ei gymryd hyd nes y bydd pob dewis amgen ymarferol arall wedi ei ystyried yn gydwybodol, gan gynnwys ffedereiddio.  Rydym yn sicrhau bod pob ysgol a chymuned, lle bynnag y bônt, yn cael gwrandawiad teg.  
  
Er mwyn cael rhagdybiaeth na chaiff ysgolion gwledig eu cau, mae angen diffinio ysgol wledig at y diben penodol hwnnw. Am y tro cyntaf, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sefydlu diffiniad o ysgolion gwledig ac yn cyhoeddi rhestr o ysgolion gwledig. Pan fydd awdurdodau lleol, neu gynigwyr eraill, yn ystyried cau ysgol, bydd angen iddynt gadarnhau a yw’r ysgol ar y rhestr a bydd y gofynion pellach a nodir yn y Cod yn gymwys. Mae’r ymgynghoriad felly yn ceisio barn am gynigion ar gyfer dynodi priodol.   
  
Mae’r Cod Trefniadaeth Ysgolion wrth wraidd y darpariaethau a gyflwynwyd gan Ddeddf Safonau a Threfniadaeth Ysgolion (Cymru) 2013\.  Gyda’i gilydd, mae’r newidiadau a gyflwynwyd gan y Ddeddf a’r Cod wedi cyflymu proses trefniadaeth ysgolion drwy sicrhau, lle bynnag y bo’n bosibl, y caiff penderfyniadau eu gwneud ar lefel leol. Rydym wedi adolygu’r Cod yn dilyn tair blynedd o weithredu ac wedi cynnig nifer o newidiadau sy’n adlewyrchu’r adborth a’r hyn a ddysgwyd dros y cyfnod hwnnw. Bydd yr ymgynghoriad yn ceisio barn am y rhain ac yn rhoi cyfle i ymgynghoreion roi sylwadau eraill ar y Cod.   
  
Mae’r ymgynghoriad wedi’i gyhoeddi ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru a’i dynnu at sylw’r prif randdeiliaid gan gynnwys ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol. Edrychaf ymlaen at gael ymateb Aelodau’r Cynulliad i’r ymgynghoriad ac rwy’n eu cymell i annog rhieni, athrawon a chymunedau yn eu hetholaethau i ymateb iddo hefyd. 

 https://ymgyngoriadau.llyw.cymru/ymgyngoriadau/cod\-trefniadaeth\-ysgolion  
   
Yn fy Natganiad Llafar yn un o’r cyfarfodydd llawn ym mis Tachwedd, nodais nifer o gamau gweithredu eraill y byddwn yn eu cymryd mewn perthynas ag ysgolion bach a gwledig. Bydd y camau hyn yn cefnogi ein nod ehangach i gryfhau ac ymestyn y berthynas rhwng ysgolion a'i gilydd a blaenoriaethu arweinyddiaeth yn y byd addysg. Maent yn cydnabod bod ysgolion a chymunedau mewn rhannau gwahanol o Gymru yn wynebu heriau gwahanol wrth i ni symud ymlaen gyda'n diwygiadau i godi safonau addysg a lleihau'r bwlch o ran cyrhaeddiad.   
  
Ers mis Ebrill 2017, rydym wedi cyflwyno grant newydd o £2\.5m y flwyddyn i hyrwyddo arloesedd a chodi safonau mewn ysgolion bach a gwledig yng Nghymru. Bydd awdurdodau lleol yn gweinyddu’r grant ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, maent wedi cael gwybod faint o arian grant y byddant yn ei gael ac maent wedi cyflwyno eu cynlluniau ar gyfer gwariant   
ddiwedd mis Mai. Rydym wrthi’n asesu’r cynlluniau hynny a sut y byddant o fudd i ysgolion bach a gwledig, yn unol â phrif ddibenion y grant, sef:     
  
• annog arloesi (er enghraifft defnyddio technolegau newydd i fynd i'r afael â materion megis ynysu proffesiynol drwy ddefnyddio grym TG);  
• cefnogi rhagor o gydweithio rhwng ysgolion gan gynnwys cydweithredu a ffedereiddio i godi safonau;  
• darparu cymorth gweinyddol mewn ysgolion lle mae gan y pennaeth amserlen addysgu drom; a  
• cynyddu defnydd cymunedol o adeiladau ysgolion.  
  
Cydweithio rhwng ysgolion yw conglfaen strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i godi cyrhaeddiad addysgol ac mae’n un o’r prif bethau y mae’r grant ysgolion bach a gwledig yn canolbwyntio arno.  
  
Byddaf mewn cysylltiad eto i roi gwybod i chi am y cynnydd dros y misoedd i ddod.