English: Thank you, Dawn. You are correct in saying that local authorities are responsible for school funding, and, indeed, that is set out in current Welsh law. You will also be aware that Estyn, the independent inspectorate, not only has a role in inspecting individual schools, but also has a role in inspecting the performance of individual local education authorities. They have trialled a new inspection framework, the first of which took place in Neath Port Talbot, and that is a very good way in which we can ensure the performance of local education authorities. I am aware that for some authorities that have recently been in special measures, there is a need to keep a very close eye, and, of course, you'll be aware that one of the reasons why we work in partnership with the middle tier of the regional consortia is to ensure that there is high-quality support for school improvement in that area, rather than dissipated across all the local authorities. But can I just take this opportunity? I understand that budgets are under pressure across Wales, not just in Merthyr Tydfil, but despite that, individual schools are not letting that hold-back on their ambition for their children. I recently had the opportunity to visit Afon Taf High School, and I was so impressed by the accelerated reading programme that they have introduced in that school, which is seeing the pupils' level of literacy jump immeasurably. And only last week, at the festival - the literacy festival that was held in Merthyr - I had an opportunity to speak to a number of the pupils who were attending the festival. It gave me huge hope to see young boys, who we know are particularly challenging when it comes to reading, speak so eloquently about their love of reading, the literature and the books that they're choosing at the moment, and their passion. And also, not only their passion for the individual book, but their understanding that by practising their reading, using this opportunity, that they were giving them the very best chance for themselves, not just in English but, actually, to access the entire curriculum. I commend schools like that that are not using tight financial times as an excuse not to introduce new and innovative approaches within their schools. They're to be commended.
Welsh: Diolch, Dawn. Rydych yn llygad eich lle yn dweud mai awdurdodau lleol sy'n gyfrifol am gyllid ysgolion, ac yn wir, nodir hynny yng nghyfraith bresennol Cymru. Fe fyddwch hefyd yn gwybod bod gan Estyn, yr arolygiaeth annibynnol, rôl i'w chwarae nid yn unig yn arolygu ysgolion unigol, ond hefyd yn arolygu perfformiad awdurdodau addysg lleol unigol. Maent wedi treialu fframwaith arolygu newydd, y cyntaf ohonynt yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, ac mae honno'n ffordd dda iawn inni allu sicrhau perfformiad awdurdodau addysg lleol. Rwy'n ymwybodol fod angen cadw llygad barcud ar rai awdurdodau sydd wedi bod yn destun mesurau arbennig yn ddiweddar, ac wrth gwrs, fe fyddwch yn gwybod mai un o'r rhesymau pam ein bod yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â haen ganol y consortia rhanbarthol yw er mwyn sicrhau bod cymorth o ansawdd uchel ar gael i wella ysgolion yn yr ardal honno, yn hytrach na'i fod wedi'i wasgaru ar draws yr holl awdurdodau lleol. Ond a gaf fi gymryd y cyfle hwn? Rwy'n deall bod cyllidebau o dan bwysau ledled Cymru, nid ym Merthyr Tudful yn unig, ond er hynny, nid yw ysgolion yn caniatáu i hynny rwystro eu huchelgais ar gyfer eu plant. Yn ddiweddar, cefais gyfle i ymweld ag Ysgol Uwchradd Afon Tâf, ac roeddwn yn edmygu'r rhaglen ddarllen cyflym y maent wedi'i chyflwyno yn yr ysgol honno, ac sydd wedi arwain at gynnydd anferth yn lefel llythrennedd y disgyblion. A'r wythnos diwethaf, yn yr ŵyl - yr ŵyl lythrennedd a gynhaliwyd ym Merthyr Tudful - cefais gyfle i siarad â nifer o'r disgyblion a fynychodd yr ŵyl. Roedd yn galonogol iawn gweld bechgyn ifanc, y gwyddom eu bod yn arbennig o heriol mewn perthynas â darllen, fel y gwyddom, yn siarad mor huawdl am eu cariad at ddarllen, y llenyddiaeth a'r llyfrau y maent yn eu dewis ar hyn o bryd, a'u brwdfrydedd. Ac nid yn unig eu brwdfrydedd ynglŷn â llyfr unigol, ond eu dealltwriaeth eu bod, drwy ymarfer eu darllen, defnyddio'r cyfle hwn, yn rhoi'r cyfle gorau posibl iddynt hwy eu hunain, nid yn unig yn Saesneg, ond mewn gwirionedd, i gael mynediad at y cwricwlwm cyfan. Rwy'n cymeradwyo ysgolion fel hyn nad ydynt yn defnyddio cyfnod ariannol anodd fel esgus i beidio â chyflwyno dulliau newydd ac arloesol yn eu hysgolion. Dylid eu canmol.