Laura Doel, National Secretary of NAHT Cymru, commented on the Written Ministerial Statement made by Lynne Neagle, Cabinet Secretary for Education regarding Wales' participation in international assessments for Year 5 learners:

"We support the use of international assessments like TIMSS and PIRLS as tools to benchmark learner progress. However, it's crucial to recognise that these are just one of many measures that should be employed to aid schools and support learner progression.

"NAHT Cymru strongly opposes any move towards high-stakes accountability as a result of these assessments. We must avoid pitting schools against each other in a knee-jerk reaction to concerns about standards. Such an approach would be at odds with the principles of the new curriculum in Wales.

"We have consistently emphasised that raising educational standards requires a fair and equitable funding mechanism for schools. This is essential to ensure schools have the necessary resources to address concerns over standards, behaviour, additional learning needs, attendance, and other critical issues. Only when schools are properly resourced can we truly tackle these challenges and improve outcomes for all learners."