We’ve published our response to the Welsh Government’s consultation on the future of tertiary education in Wales, welcoming its ambition to create a more coherent and high-performing system.
As the independent, professional regulator, our response focuses on the workforce and safeguarding. Growth in further education, increasingly complex learner needs, and rising numbers of learners with additional learning needs (ALN) all bring important safeguarding considerations. While the consultation rightly highlights learner participation and progression, we emphasise that a high-quality, sustainable system depends on the practitioners who deliver it.
In our response, we highlight the need for clear and more coherent professional standards across the schools and tertiary sectors, aligned with our Code of Professional Conduct and Practice. A more joined-up approach would strengthen shared expectations, support workforce mobility, and promote consistent learner experiences. We also reiterate our view that custodianship of the professional standards should sit with us, as the independent regulator, to strengthen clarity and consistency across the system.
Similarly, we emphasise the need to strengthen access to professional learning across the workforce. A more consistent entitlement would help ensure fair access for all practitioners, including those working part-time or on flexible contracts, and better align learning with national priorities such as ALN, diversity and anti-racism, digital transformation, leadership, and Welsh-medium provision.
Our registration data points to ongoing challenges in recruitment and retention, particularly in further education learning support roles and key curriculum areas. While learner numbers continue to grow, workforce growth has been more limited. Addressing this will be key to maintaining quality, continuity, and safeguarding, with a continued focus on strengthening professional identity, supporting early career practitioners, and improving retention.
We also see positive opportunities through reform of initial teacher education for the post-compulsory sector. Stronger, accredited entry and early career pathways could further enhance professionalism, support safeguarding, and improve parity with the school sector.
Finally, we welcome the recognition of challenges in Welsh-medium provision and highlight the importance of continued workforce planning to build capacity across Wales, informed by robust workforce intelligence.
We look forward to continuing to work with Welsh Government, Medr, and partners to support the development of a high-quality tertiary education system, underpinned by strong professional standards and sustained investment in the workforce.