English: Thank you, Chair. I recognise the concerns that Laura Anne Jones has outlined. At Stage 1, the committee heard a number of concerns regarding the proposed relationship of the commission with post-16 provision within sixth forms. We heard concerns regarding the fact that the commission had the strategic responsibility for ensuring appropriate facilities for pupils aged 16 to 19, that the commission, under some circumstances, would be able to direct that sixth forms in schools could be established or brought to an end. Carmarthenshire County Council's education department said it could be a disaster if the local context disappeared in decision making. It also thought that it undermined subsidiarity principles, local management and the emphasis seen in the new curriculum. Laura Anne Jones has spoken about the concerns of the Education Workforce Council that powers over sixth forms could lead to removing local accountability for this unique element of education provision, and UCAC agreed, saying that it undermined democracy and local representation and could impact negatively on schools' ability to recruit teachers. The Welsh Language Commissioner mentioned the important and unique role that the sixth form plays in Welsh-medium education, enabling pupils by maintaining and developing the language skills of those pupils who have received their statutory education through the medium of Welsh and contributing to the Welsh language ethos of those schools. We support the Minister's amendments, which respond to these concerns, in our view. 'Restructure' does correspond with the wording of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 at the moment and is less threatening, we think, than 'rationalise', and that any proposals regarding a sixth form can now be referred to Welsh Ministers if there is valid objection. This level of transparency and accountability is very important, and safeguards the options and choices of learners and safeguards the immersion model in Welsh-medium education.
Welsh: Diolch, Cadeirydd. Dwi'n adnabod y pryderon mae Laura Anne Jones wedi eu hamlinellu. Yn ystod cam 1, fe glywodd y pwyllgor nifer o bryderon ynghylch perthynas arfaethedig y comisiwn gyda'r ddarpariaeth ôl-16 o fewn dosbarthiadau chwech. Clywsom ni bryderon ynghylch y ffaith bod gan y comisiwn y cyfrifoldeb strategol am sicrhau cyfleusterau priodol ar gyfer pobl ifainc 16 i 19 oed, y byddai'r comisiwn o dan rai amgylchiadau yn gallu cyfarwyddo bod chweched dosbarth mewn ysgol yn cael ei sefydlu neu ei derfynu. Roedd adran addysg Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin, er enghraifft, o'r farn y gallai fod yn drychineb os ceir gwared ar y cyd-destun lleol wrth wneud penderfyniadau. Roedd hefyd yn credu ei fod yn tanseilio egwyddorion sybsidiaredd, ymreolaeth leol a'r pwyslais sydd i'w weld yn y cwricwlwm newydd. Mae Laura Anne Jones wedi sôn am bryderon y Cyngor Gweithlu Addysg y gallai'r pwerau dros chweched dosbarth arwain at ddileu atebolrwydd lleol am yr elfen unigryw hon o ddarpariaeth addysg, a chytunodd Undeb Addysg Cenedlaethol Cymru, gan ddweud ei fod yn tanseilio democratiaeth a chynrychiolaeth leol ac y gallai yn y pen draw effeithio'n negyddol ar allu ysgolion i recriwtio athrawon. Soniodd Comisiynydd y Gymraeg am y rôl bwysig ac unigryw y mae'r chweched dosbarth yn ei chwarae mewn addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg, gan alluogi disgyblion wrth gynnal a datblygu sgiliau Cymraeg disgyblion sydd wedi derbyn eu haddysg statudol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a chyfrannu at ethos Gymraeg yr ysgolion hynny. Cefnogwn welliannau'r Gweinidog, sy'n ymateb i'r pryderon hyn, felly, yn ein barn ni. Mae 'ailstrwythuro' yn cyd-fynd â geiriad y Ddeddf Safonau a Threfniadaeth Ysgolion (Cymru) 2013 ar hyn o bryd, ac mae'n llai bygythiol, yn ein tyb ni, ei naws na'r gair 'rhesymoli', a hefyd bod unrhyw gynigion a wneir mewn perthynas â dosbarthiadau chwech mewn ysgolion yn gallu nawr gael eu cyfeirio at Weinidogion Cymru os oes gwrthwynebiad cymwys. Mae'r lefel hon o dryloywder ac atebolrwydd democrataidd yn hynod o bwysig ac yn diogelu dewis ac amrywiaeth darpariaeth i ddysgwr ac yn diogelu model trochi addysg Gymraeg.