It is hard to believe that it is the sixth anniversary of this supplement and the education show it celebrates. So much has changed - and so fast.

Since the Assembly’s creation, Wales has become an ever more distinct nation, with education minister Jane Davidson’s “made in Wales” solutions.

There is still work to be done on adapting some of these big ideas. For instance, three years after the bac pilot began schools are waiting to hear if it will be extended. How successful has it been? On the one hand “I can’t see any reason why Jane Davidson wouldn’t roll it out through Wales,” says Mary Hayden, who heads the team evaluating the qualification (see page 4). Yet first-year medic Caroline Stewart told us some of her friends weren’t able to get on courses because the bac is still unknown.

Meanwhile, without compulsory key stage 2 tests tracking pupils’ progress is harder. One authority - Caerphilly - has a creative solution (page 9).

Another neat solution is the hotline (page 12) which is helping parents to unscramble Welsh so they can assist their children with homework, a move which can only help Iaith Pawb, the drive to ensure that Welsh becomes everyone’s language in a bilingual nation.

*Welcome to the sixth Welsh show

Anne Horner

Editor, Wales education 2006