To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day (15 May), the Education Workforce Council (EWC) is highlighting how it is working to make its services more accessible.

As the independent, professional regulator for the education workforce in Wales, the EWC is committed to delivering inclusive, accessible services for its registrants and stakeholders.

In April 2025, the EWC refreshed its Strategic Equality Plan 2024-28 (SEP) which sets out its commitment to promoting equality and diversity. As part of this, the EWC strives to continuously improve the accessibility of its services, aligning with best practice and legal requirements.

A key focus of this is removing barriers to participation in its events and resources. The EWC runs a regular series of events, which it hosts virtually to remove any physical barriers. During registration, individuals can note any accessibility issues they may have so the team can do their best to make reasonable adjustments. Event recordings are later shared online and are available on-demand, 24/7, with options for Welsh or English subtitles.

The EWC has also started creating some of their corporate videos with British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation. The regulator plans to continue this approach, ensuring its core documents and videos are available in BSL format.

Director of Professional Development, Accreditation and Policy, Bethan Holliday-Stacey, said “We want to make sure that everybody can access our services and resources. This means listening to registrants and adapting, where we can, to meet their diverse needs.”

In 2023, the EWC website underwent a full redesign ensuring its compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard. To offer further support, the site features the ReachDeck toolbar, which offers a range of accessibility tools to help users navigate the website.

Bethan continued, “We are always keen to hear about how the services we provide can be improved and made more accessible. If you have any feedback, please do get in touch”.

You can read the EWC’s SEP in full, and provide feedback on the services the EWC offers, by visiting the website.

This summer, the Education Workforce Council (EWC) will be attending a series of prominent national events across Wales to engage with its audiences.

Registrants, parents/guardians, and learners and young people are invited along to the EWC’s stand where there will be a variety of activities for all ages and groups, as well as the opportunity to discuss the work of the EWC face-to-face.

The events the team will be attending include:

• Urdd Eisteddfod – Margam Park, 26 May–31 May 2025
• Tafwyl – Cardiff, 14-15 June 2025
• Cardiff MELA – Cardiff, 15 June 2025
• Pride Cymru – Cardiff, 21–22 June 2025
• Royal Welsh Show – Builth Wells, 21–24 July 2025
• National Eisteddfod – Wrexham, 2–9 August 2025

Attendees will be able to chat to the team about the EWC’s regulatory responsibilities, the various resources available to support registrants and the wider public, careers in education, professional development, and much more.

The EWC’s Director of Finance and Corporate Services, and Deputy Chief Executive, Lisa Winstone said “These summer events are a fantastic way for us to engage directly with our registrants, and members of the public. They provide us the valuable opportunity to not only share information about our role regulating the education workforce in Wales, but hear feedback direct from registrants, and the public who’s interest we work in.

“We’re looking forward to meeting everyone and answering any questions they may have about our work, so be sure to pop by the stand if you are attending the events.”

Updates from each event, including where exactly you can find the EWC’s stand, will be available via the EWC’s social media channels, Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Chief Executive of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), Hayden Llewellyn, has announced his retirement after 25 years of dedicated service.

Hayden first joined the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) at its inception in 2000, working initially as Deputy Chief Executive, before assuming the role of Chief Executive when GTCW transitioned to the EWC in 2014.

During his tenure, Hayden has led the EWC through its formation, the challenges of the pandemic, and the expansion of the Register of Education Practitioners. He has been a strong advocate for the education workforce, consistently working on their behalf to secure powers that strengthen the profession, all while safeguarding learners, young people, and the public.

Responding to Hayden’s retirement, EWC Chair Eithne Hughes said, “Hayden’s outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in shaping the EWC into the respected organisation it is today. His commitment to supporting the education workforce and safeguarding learners and young people across Wales has left a lasting legacy.

“On behalf of the Council, I extend our heartfelt thanks for his exceptional service and wish him every happiness in his retirement.”

Hayden will officially step down this summer. In the meantime, a recruitment process is underway to find his replacement. Further information on this can be found on the EWC website.

The Education Workforce Council (EWC) has published its Strategic Plan 2025-28 and refreshed Strategic Equality Plan 2024-28, setting out its key priorities and commitments for the years ahead.

As Wales’ independent professional regulator for the education workforce, safeguarding the public, maintaining professionalism, and enhancing standards are at the core of EWC’s work. These plans detail how the EWC will continue to deliver its statutory functions effectively, efficiently, and sustainably, with equality, fairness, and professionalism at the heart of its approach.

The Strategic Plan 2025-28 outlines the EWC’s priorities and objectives for the next three years in line with its statutory remit. Alongside this, the revised Strategic Equality Plan 2024-28 builds upon the progress made to date and sets out how the EWC will promote equality, diversity, and inclusion through five ambitious strategic objectives.

Publishing the plans, EWC Chief Executive, Hayden Llewellyn, said “The work of the EWC is vital to protect the public, safeguard learners and young people, and maintain the integrity of the education profession in Wales.

“These plans set a clear direction for how we will continue to do this through robust regulation and registration, as well as providing essential guidance and resources to our registrants, promoting careers through initiatives like Educators Wales, and strengthening our presence in key national groups and committees to offer sound advice and evidence.”

Both plans were developed in consultation with registrants, stakeholders across the wider education sector, the public, and EWC Council members and staff.

They can be read now, along with a full suite of corporate documents, on the EWC website.