Written question WQ85648
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to rolling out more primary and secondary Welsh schools in areas in Wales where there are few?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Welsh Government has committed to a target of 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050 at the heart of its Programme for Government. We want to see 26% of Year 1 learners receiving their education through the medium of Welsh by 2026, rising to 30% by 2031.
Our Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (WESPs) developed by all Local Authorities are crucial in ensuring that we achieve this target. That is why, I am currently considering all plans and intend to make a further statement on all 22 local Authority plans in July (Oral Statement scheduled for 12 July). It is also why supporting the demand for Welsh medium education is a key criterion for education projects delivered under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
I am pleased that Conwy local authority have committed in their draft Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) to increase the percentage of learners in Welsh-medium education from 25.8% currently to 40% within the next 10 years.
In December 2021, I published the revised school categories according to Welsh medium provision guidance. One of the intentions of the new categorisation system is to encourage more schools to increase their Welsh-medium provision and a number of Local Authorities have indicated in their draft 10-year WESPs that this is the main mechanism through which they intend to achieve their target.
In the new 10-year WESP, Conwy has outlined that this policy, as well as building on their immersion support programme will be a crucial part of achieving their 40% target.
I have also recently announced (March 2022) 11 projects that will benefit from the new £30m Welsh-medium education capital grant – Conwy are one of the 9 local authorities that will benefit from this funding.
Conwy has received approval in principle, to extend Ysgol y Creuddyn (£914,320.8), increasing provision to support immersion pupils between primary and secondary in the local catchment area. This investment is subject to successfully completion of the business case approval process, and my officials look forward to receiving the case for change in due course.