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Welsh-medium education

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Welsh-medium education (Welsh: Addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg) is a form of education in Wales in which pupils are taught primarily through the medium of Welsh.

The aim of Welsh-medium education is to achieve fluency in both Welsh and English. All children over the age of seven receive some of their instruction in English. In 2015, 16% of children in primary and secondary schools in Wales were in Welsh-medium schools. A further 10% were in schools classified as bilingual or with different language streams. There is some evidence that children in Welsh-medium education tend to perform worse academically than others.[1] A smaller proportion of people in higher levels of education study partially or fully through the medium of Welsh.

Formal Welsh-medium education began in Wales in 1939, and the first Welsh-medium secondary education began in 1962. In the following decades the provision was greatly expanded. The Welsh Government target is for 30% of pupils to be taught in this manner by 2031 and 40% by 2050.

Background

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Further information: History of education in Wales § Language usage
 
Children in a classroom with items labeled in Welsh in 1966

In the early 19th century, English became the usual language of instruction at schools in Wales. While the country's working class was largely Welsh-speaking at the time, Welsh public opinion wished for children to learn English.[2][3] Many schools used corporal punishment to stop children from speaking Welsh in the first half of the 19th century;[4] the practice declined in the second half of the century.[5][6] The British government never prohibited the use of Welsh at schools but it treated English as the assumed language of instruction.[7] More Welsh was gradually used at schools in Welsh-speaking areas in the mid to late 19th century[8][9] and teaching of the language began to receive moderate government support from the late 19th century.[10]

In 1939, the first Welsh-medium primary school was established independently of the state by the Urdd in Aberystwyth.[11] Ysgol Glan Clwyd was the first designated bilingual secondary school in Wales, which opened in 1956.[12] Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen (now Ysgol Garth Olwg) became the first Welsh-medium secondary school in South Wales in 1962.[13]

The Welsh Government's current target is to increase the proportion of each school year group receiving Welsh-medium education to 30% by 2031, and then 40% by 2050.[14] During a Senedd debate in December 2022, Plaid Cymru suggested Welsh-medium education be made compulsory to all students in Wales as part of the bill. It was rejected by the Welsh Government.[15] In March 2023, the Welsh government introduced a white paper for a new Welsh Language Education Bill which would make various changes to Welsh language policy including improving teaching of Welsh in English-medium schools and requiring local authorities to promote Welsh-medium education.[16]

Nursery education

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Mudiad Meithrin (Nursery Movement), formerly Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (Nursery Schools Movement) has established playgroups and nurseries throughout Wales which allow children to learn Welsh through immersion. It is the main Welsh-medium education and care provider in Wales for the early years. There were 12,773 children in cylchoedd meithrin (Mudiad Meithrin playgroups) and day nurseries in 2018–2019.[17]

Na Naíscoileanna Gaelacha (Irish Infant Schools Organisation) was established in 1974 with continued input from Cylchoedd Meithrin.[18] Alongside Ikastola in the Basque Autonomous Community, the Welsh Meithrin inspired the Diwan movement in Brittany.[19]

Schools

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A Welsh Government video about Treorchy Comprehensive an English medium school which had seen an improvement in its results after introducing bilingual education for higher ability students. (2012)

A significant minority of schoolchildren in Wales are educated largely through the medium of Welsh: in 2014–2015, 15.7% of children and young people received Welsh-medium education – a drop from the 15.9% in 2010–2011.[20] An additional 10% attended "bilingual, dual-medium [with Welsh and English speaking departments], or English with significant Welsh provision" schools.[21]

Educational institutions have flexibility over how much English children are taught prior to the age of seven.[22] This is in order to allow Welsh-medium schools and nurseries to immerse young children in the language as much as possible.[23] In the later years of primary school, the curriculum at Welsh-medium schools continues to be mostly (70% or more) taught in Welsh whilst at secondary level all subjects other than English are taught in Welsh. There are also various categories of primary and secondary level bilingual-schools. These have greater use of English and less use of Welsh in lessons.[21] As they get older, students in Welsh-medium education are required to work towards the same tests and qualifications in the English language as their counterparts who were primarily educated in English.[24][25]

Studies suggest that parents choose Welsh-medium education as an expression of cultural identity and due to believing it will provide an economic advantage to their children.[26] A 1998 study suggested that the language medium of a secondary school had little effect on its GCSE performance.[27] There is other evidence that Welsh-medium schools tend to have poorer academic results than their English-medium counterparts and struggle to accommodate children with learning difficulties.[28] The Welsh school inspectorate's (Estyn) view expressed in a 2022 book about its history is that Welsh-medium education allows more children to become fluent in both Welsh and English.[29]

Primary school

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Welsh Government statistics show that in 2019, 22.8% of 7-year-old learners were assessed through the medium of Welsh (first language).[30]

The following chart gives the proportion of primary school pupils receiving Welsh-medium education each year.

Number of pupils in primary school classes by Welsh category
(Pupil Level Annual School Census)[31]
School year Total pupils[32] Welsh-medium (main) Welsh-medium (minor)
Number of pupils % of total Number of pupils % of total
2023–2024 257,591 57,820 22.45% 4,100 1.59%
2022–2023 262,666 59,010 22.47% 4,075 1.55%
2021–2022 266,574 59,305 22.25% 3,480 1.31%
2020–2021 272,339 60,770 22.31% 3,760 1.38%
2019–2020 271,323 60,555 22.32% 3,735 1.38%
2018–2019 274,799 61,260 22.29% 3,485 1.27%
2017–2018 277,095 61,665 22.25% 4,160 1.50%
2016–2017 276,940 61,390 22.17% 4,370 1.58%
2015–2016 276,954 60,725 21.93% 4,700 1.70%
2014–2015 273,400 60,615 22.17% 4,335 1.59%
2013–2014 269,421 58,985 21.89% 3,510 1.30%
2012–2013 264,186 57,430 21.74% 3,705 1.40%
2011–2012 262,144 56,785 21.66% 3,120 1.19%
2010–2011 259,189 55,235 21.31% 2,915 1.12%
2009–2010 257,445 54,120 21.02% 3,110 1.21%
2008–2009 258,314 53,480 20.70% 4,475 1.73%
2007–2008 261,607 53,820 20.57% 3,185 1.22%
2006–2007 263,261 53,340 20.26% 845 0.32%
2005–2006 265,724 53,235 20.03% 1,075 0.40%
2004–2005 270,311 52,855 19.55% 1,685 0.62%
2003–2004 273,961 52,065 19.00% 2,360 0.86%

Middle school

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The following chart gives the proportion of middle school students receiving Welsh-medium education each year.

Number of pupils in middle school classes by Welsh category
(Pupil Level Annual School Census)[31]
School year Total pupils[32] Welsh-medium (main) Welsh-medium (minor)
Number of pupils % of total Number of pupils % of total
2023–2024 28,959 10,070 34.77% 655 2.26%
2022–2023 26,168 9,720 37.14% 1,100 4.20%
2021–2022 22,516 8,185 36.35% 535 2.38%
2020–2021 22,308 7,905 35.44% 685 3.07%
2019–2020 20,746 7,350 35.43% 580 2.80%
2018–2019 17,661 5,245 29.70% 850 4.81%
2017–2018 12,153 5,045 41.51% 715 5.88%
2016–2017 9,163 3,025 33.01% 480 5.24%
2015–2016 5,371 2,225 41.43% 520 9.68%
2014–2015 4,376 1,360 31.08% 575 13.14%
2013–2014 3,542 870 24.56% 365 10.30%
2012–2013 3,648 765 20.97% 220 6.03%

Secondary school

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Welsh Government statistics show that in 2019, 18.5% of 14-year-old pupils were assessed in Welsh (first language).[30]

The following chart gives the proportion of secondary school students receiving Welsh-medium education each year.

Number of pupils in secondary school classes by Welsh category
(Pupil Level Annual School Census)[31]
School year Total pupils[32] Welsh-medium (main) Welsh-medium (minor)
Number of pupils % of total Number of pupils % of total
2023–2024 172,818 22,215 12.85% 6,005 3.47%
2022–2023 174,948 23,155 13.24% 4,325 2.47%
2021–2022 175,957 23,225 13.20% 5,985 3.40%
2020–2021 174,133 22,715 13.04% 5,905 3.39%
2019–2020 171,271 22,065 12.88% 7,780 4.54%
2018–2019 170,277 22,990 13.50% 7,165 4.21%
2017–2018 172,218 22,440 13.03% 7,570 4.40%
2016–2017 174,812 22,045 12.61% 6,820 3.90%
2015–2016 178,669 22,460 12.57% 8,800 4.93%
2014–2015 182,408 22,670 12.43% 7,065 3.87%
2013–2014 186,427 24,805 13.31% 4,980 2.67%
2012–2013 191,279 24,330 12.72% 5,595 2.93%
2011–2012 198,015 24,115 12.18% 6,995 3.53%
2010–2011 201,230 23,410 11.63% 7,530 3.74%
2009–2010 203,907 24,010 11.77% 7,380 3.62%
2008–2009 205,421 23,210 11.30% 6,950 3.38%
2007–2008 206,936 22,935 11.08% 7,330 3.54%
2006–2007 210,353 24,320 11.56% 2,935 1.40%
2005–2006 213,045 24,500 11.50% 2,595 1.22%
2004–2005 214,626 24,245 11.30% 2,090 0.97%
2003–2004 215,609 26,290 12.19% 2,265 1.05%

Further education

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During 2015–2016, 7.8% of learning activities in the Further Education sector included some element of Welsh, with 0.29% of activities offered through Welsh only. The subjects with the highest number of learning activities with some element of Welsh were Retail and Commercial Enterprise (18.1%); Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care (17.7%) and Business, Administration and Law (14.2%).[33]

Higher education

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In 2014–2015, the number of higher education students with at least some learning through the medium of Welsh reached an all-time high with 6,355 students, or 5.1% of all students at Welsh universities.[34] Of these 6,355 students, 53% were taught entirely through the medium of Welsh and 47% were taught part of their course in Welsh.[35] By 2020–2021, the number of students at Higher Education Institutions with some learning through Welsh was 6,940, equating to 5% of all enrolments at Higher Education Institutions in Wales.[36]

In 2020–2021, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David had both the highest number of students (3,510) and the highest proportion of its students (24%) receiving at least some teaching through the medium of Welsh. Glyndŵr University and the University of South Wales had the lowest proportion of its students (0%) receiving at least some teaching through the medium of Welsh.

Enrolments at Bangor University and the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David accounted for over two thirds (69%) of all enrolments with at least some teaching through the medium of Welsh.

10,345 university students in Wales were fluent Welsh speakers in 2020–2021, with a further 10,485 speakers recording themselves as Welsh speakers but not fluent. Of all universities in Wales, Cardiff University had the highest number of fluent Welsh-speaking students, amounting to 1,670 students. According to the latest data collected in 2020–2021, Bangor University had the highest percentage of fluent Welsh-speaking students of all universities in Wales (38%), followed by Aberystwyth University (30%) and Swansea University (17%).[37]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sayers, Dave (23 August 2023). "Protecting endangered languages feels right, but does it really help people?". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  2. ^ Johnes 2024, pp. 280, 293–296.
  3. ^ Johnes 2024, pp. 37–38.
  4. ^ Johnes 2024, pp. 51–52.
  5. ^ Johnes 2024, p. 66.
  6. ^ Johnes 2024, pp. 125, 134.
  7. ^ Johnes 2024, pp. 97–98, 181.
  8. ^ Johnes 2024, pp. 96–97.
  9. ^ Johnes 2024, pp. 160–162.
  10. ^ Johnes 2024, p. 181.
  11. ^ Morgan, Kenneth O. (1981). Rebirth of a Nation: Wales, 1880–1980. Oxford University Press. p. 252. ISBN 978-0-19-821736-7.
  12. ^ Beardsmore, Hugo Baetens (1993). European Models of Bilingual Education. Multilingual Matters. ISBN 978-1-85359-182-2.
  13. ^ Jones, Mari C. Language Obsolescence and Revitalization. Clarendon press. p. 22.
  14. ^ "Welsh Government launches strategy to almost double the number of Welsh speakers by 2050". wcva.org.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  15. ^ Mansfield, Mark (7 December 2022). "First Minister: Compulsory Welsh medium education 'will alienate people'". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  16. ^ "White Paper sets out proposals for new Welsh Language Education Bill". Nation.Cymru. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Mudiad Meithrin Annual Report: 2018–2019" (PDF). Mudia Meithrin. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  18. ^ Hickey, Tina M. (2020), Schwartz, Mila (ed.), "Heritage Language Early Years' Immersion: Irish-Medium Preschools in Ireland", Handbook of Early Language Education, Springer International Handbooks of Education, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 1–30, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-47073-9_15-1, ISBN 978-3-030-47073-9, S2CID 234142496, retrieved 28 March 2023
  19. ^ Bocquenet, Louis (1 January 1985). "Pourquoi DIWAN?". Mult. 4 (4): 211–215. doi:10.1515/mult.1985.4.4.211. ISSN 1613-3684. S2CID 201698843.
  20. ^ "Comisiynydd: Nifer y plant mewn addysg Gymraeg yn 'sioc'" (in Welsh). BBC Cymru Fyw. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  21. ^ a b Jones, Megan (August 2016). "Welsh-medium education and Welsh as a subject" (PDF). National Assembly for Wales (research service). pp. 5–7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  22. ^ "School curriculum overhaul for Wales published". BBC News. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Curriculum worry over compulsory English in Welsh nurseries". BBC News. 30 January 2019. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  24. ^ "National Reading and Numeracy Test Results: 2019" (PDF). 28 August 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Year 8 and 9 subject options | Careers Wales". careerswales.gov.wales. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  26. ^ Hodges, Rhian Siân (December 2011). "Integrative or instrumental Incentives? Non-Welsh-Speaking Parents and Welsh-Medium Education in the Rhymni Valley, South Wales". Treaties & Documents / Razprave in Gradivo (66): 44–63. ISSN 0354-0286 – via SocINDEX with Full Text.
  27. ^ Gorard, Stephen (December 1998). "Four Errors ... and a Conspiracy? The effectiveness of schools in Wales". Oxford Review of Education. 24 (4): 459–472. doi:10.1080/0305498980240403. ISSN 0305-4985.
  28. ^ Sayers, Dave (23 August 2023). "Protecting endangered languages feels right, but does it really help people?". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  29. ^ Norris, Barry (2022). "Challenge and transition: The inspectorate in Wales, 1992–2020". In Keane, Ann (ed.). Watchdogs or Visionaries?: Perspectives on the History of the Education Inspectorate in Wales. University of Wales Press. ASIN B0BLCS7YDK.
  30. ^ a b "The Position of the Welsh Language 2016–20: Welsh Language Commissioner's 5-year Report" (PDF). Welsh Language Commissioner. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  31. ^ a b c "Number of pupils in primary, middle and secondary school classes by local authority and Welsh category". statswales.gov.wales. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  32. ^ a b c "Pupils by local authority, region and Welsh medium type". statswales.gov.wales. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Learning activities at further education institutions by subject and medium of delivery". statswales.gov.wales. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  34. ^ "Welsh in higher education institutions". gov.wales. Welsh Government. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  35. ^ Jones, Megan (July 2017). "Welsh-medium and bilingual provision in Further and Higher Education" (PDF). National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  36. ^ "Welsh language in higher education: September 2020 to August 2021". GOV.WALES. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  37. ^ "Student enrolments in Wales with teaching through the medium of Welsh by institution". statswales.gov.wales. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
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Johnes, Martin (2024). Welsh Not: Elementary Education and the Anglicisation of Nineteenth-Century Wales (PDF). University of Wales Press. ISBN 9781837721818.

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