Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Rwy'n benderfynol o sicrhau bod adnoddau'r Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion yn cael eu defnyddio'n briodol a bod ein gwaith a'n buddsoddiad wedi cael yr effaith angenrheidiol ar gyrhaeddiad addysgol plant o gefndiroedd difreintiedig.

I gefnogi ysgolion, Awdurdodau Lleol a Chonsortia gyda'u hymdrechion i wella deilliannau dysgwyr difreintiedig mewn modd sy'n gynaliadwy, rwyf wrth fy modd cael cyhoeddi bod Syr Alasdair MacDonald wedi ei benodi yn 'Eiriolwr Codi Cyrhaeddiad' i Gymru.

Mae Syr Alasdair yn ymarferydd uchel ei barch a chanddo hanes llwyddiannus o bennu strategaethau ar gyfer gwella lefelau cyrhaeddiad pob dysgwr ond yn enwedig y rheini o gefndiroedd difreintiedig.

Fel pennaeth Ysgol Uwchradd Morpeth yn ardal Tower Hamlets yn Llundain, cafodd Syr Alasdair brofiad uniongyrchol o leihau anghyfartaledd rhwng perfformiad bechgyn a merched, y cyfoethog a'r tlawd ac ar draws grwpiau lleiafrifoedd ethnig.   
   
Bydd Syr Alasdair yn gyfrifol am ymgysylltu'n uniongyrchol ag ysgolion, Awdurdodau Lleol a chonsortia er mwyn;

* codi proffil, ymhlith ysgolion ac ymarferwyr, a thynnu eu sylw at bwysigrwydd mynd i'r afael â'r cysylltiad rhwng amddifadedd a chyrhaeddiad;
* hyrwyddo dyheadau uwch ar gyfer dysgwyr o gefndiroedd difreintiedig;
* cefnogi ac ennyn brwdfrydedd arweinwyr ysgolion i fanteisio ar ddulliau ysgol gyfan, sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth gadarn, o fynd i'r afael â thangyflawni ymhlith dysgwyr o gefndiroedd difreintiedig;
* herio safbwyntiau negyddol a disgwyliadau isel;
* rhoi adborth i Weinidogion a swyddogion ar yr hyn sy'n gweithio'n dda, meysydd sy'n achosi pryder a rhwystrau ymddangosiadol neu wirioneddol yn y system;
* bod yn 'gyfaill beirniadol' o ran datblygu polisi Llywodraeth Cymru.

  
Bydd hefyd yn creu cysylltiad â'r rhaglen Her Ysgolion Cymru i gynnig cyngor ac arweiniad.  

Ymddeolodd Syr Alasdair o'i waith fel addysgwr ym mis Rhagfyr ac rwyf wrth fy modd ei fod wedi cytuno i weithio gydag ysgolion yng Nghymru, tan ddiwedd tymor yr haf i gychwyn. Ei gyfrifoldeb cyntaf fydd bod yn brif areithiwr yn y gynhadledd Codi Dyheadau – Cyrhaeddiad Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig mewn Addysg ar 20 Mawrth 2014 yn Stadiwm y Mileniwm, Caerdydd.







Translation:


 
I am determined to ensure that Pupil Deprivation Grant resources are being used appropriately and that our work and investment have the necessary impact on educational attainment of children from deprived backgrounds.


To support schools, local authorities and consortia in their efforts to bring about sustained improvement in outcomes for deprived learners I am delighted to announce the appointment of Sir Alasdair MacDonald as ‘Raising Attainment Advocate’ for Wales.


Sir Alasdair is a well\-respected practitioner with a proven track record in strategies to improve attainment levels for all learners and especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.


As Head of Morpeth secondary school in Tower Hamlets, Sir Alasdair has first\-hand experience of reducing disparities in educational performance between boys and girls, rich and poor and across ethnic minority groups.  

   

Sir Alasdair’s role will be to engage directly with schools, LAs and consortia to:


* raise the profile and highlight the importance of tackling the link between deprivation and attainment with schools and practitioners;
* promote higher aspirations for learners from deprived backgrounds;
* support and enthuse schools leaders to embrace well evidenced, whole school approaches to tackling underperformance of learners from deprived backgrounds;
* challenge negative views and low expectations;
* provide feedback to the me and officials on what is working well, areas of concern and perceived or real blockages in the system; and,
* act a ‘critical friend’ in relation to Welsh Government policy development


He will also link with the Schools Challenge Cymru programme to offer advice and guidance. 


Sir Alasdair retired from teaching in December and I am delighted that he has agreed to work with schools in Wales, initially to the end of the summer term. His first engagement will be as the keynote speaker at the Raising Aspirations – Minority Ethnic Achievement Conference on 20th March 2014 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff