Wales will not be seeing any literacy and numeracy centres - the Welsh Office has other financial priorities, and believes the initiative is unnecessary.
A spokeswoman for the Welsh Office said: “We feel we don’t need the centres. ” Instead, it wants each primary school to set its own targets for improvement.
Swift action from the schools’ inspectorate will follow on “schools judged to be under-performing or failing pupils”. Encouragement will be given by the Welsh Office, aided by the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, and the Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit.
The Welsh Office is also investing Pounds 3 million on information technology for all primary schools in Wales, with separate provision under Grants for Education Support and Training for training in its use.
Teachers’ unions felt that Wales should not miss out financially.
Gethin Lewis, headteacher of Gabalfa primary school, Cardiff, and a member of the National Union of Teachers’ national executive, said: “While we are not complaining that we haven’t got the new centres, we need enough funding to support children with educational and learning problems.”
