English: I am absolutely committed to raising standards. That is my and this Government's national mission: to raise standards and to close the attainment gap and to ensure that we have an education system in Wales that is a source of national pride and national confidence. The reformed GCSEs are an important part of that process. The reason why Qualifications Wales - the independent body that oversees the examinations system in Wales - has published papers warning of a potential dip in results is because of the introduction of more rigorous maths, English and Welsh GCSEs, because we are moving away from BTEC science. It is appalling to think - [Interruption.] Darren, if you would let me answer, it is appalling to think that, in some schools, until recently, not a single student sat a GCSE in science. Entire cohorts were put into BTEC exams. That was a disgrace. We also know - [Interruption.] We also know - [Interruption.] We also know that we have seen record early entry into this examination series. I am deeply concerned that some schools, for whatever reason, are entering children early for exams, after only one year of study of a course that should have been delivered over two years. And those students, who have the potential to get an A* maybe after two years, will get a C this summer, and those schools will settle for that C. That's why I've asked Qualifications Wales to do a report into early entry, and I will take the appropriate action to ensure that early entry does not jeopardise my pursuit of high standards in our education system.
Welsh: Rwy'n gwbl ymrwymedig i godi safonau. Dyna yw fy nghenhadaeth genedlaethol i a'r Llywodraeth hon: codi safonau a chau'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad a sicrhau bod gennym system addysg yng Nghymru sy'n destun balchder cenedlaethol a hyder cenedlaethol. Mae'r TGAU diwygiedig yn rhan bwysig o'r broses honno. Y rheswm pam fod Cymwysterau Cymru - y corff annibynnol sy'n goruchwylio'r system arholiadau yng Nghymru - wedi cyhoeddi papurau'n rhybuddio am ostyngiad posibl yn y canlyniadau yw am fod TGAU mathemateg, Saesneg a Chymraeg mwy trwyadl wedi cael eu cyflwyno, gan ein bod yn symud oddi wrth wyddoniaeth BTEC. Mae'n ofnadwy meddwl - [Torri ar draws.] Darren, pe baech yn gadael i mi ateb, mae'n ofnadwy meddwl, mewn rhai ysgolion, nad oedd unrhyw fyfyrwyr yn sefyll arholiadau TGAU mewn gwyddoniaeth tan yn ddiweddar. Roedd cohortau cyfan yn cael eu cyflwyno i sefyll arholiadau BTEC. Roedd hynny'n warthus. Gwyddom hefyd - [Torri ar draws.] Gwyddom hefyd - [Torri ar draws.] Gwyddom hefyd ein bod wedi gweld mwy o fyfyrwyr yn cael eu cyflwyno'n gynnar i sefyll y gyfres hon o arholiadau nag erioed o'r blaen. Rwy'n bryderus iawn fod rhai ysgolion, am ba reswm bynnag, yn cyflwyno plant i sefyll arholiadau'n gynnar, ar ôl un flwyddyn yn unig o astudio cwrs a ddylai gael ei gyflwyno dros gyfnod o ddwy flynedd. A bydd y myfyrwyr hynny, sydd â'r potensial i gael A* efallai ar ôl dwy flynedd, yn cael C yr haf hwn, a bydd yr ysgolion yn setlo am yr C honno. Dyna pam y gofynnais i Cymwysterau Cymru lunio adroddiad ar gyflwyno cynnar, a byddaf yn cymryd y camau priodol i sicrhau nad yw cyflwyno cynnar yn amharu ar fy nod o sicrhau safonau uchel yn ein system addysg.