Written question WQ93125

All Local Authorities in Wales currently have sufficient capacity to meet demand for Welsh-medium places within their area. However, there will be occasions where demand exceeds capacity in some schools including Welsh-medium schools. Where a school has more applications than there are places available it is appropriate that the admission authority manages admissions properly, through their published oversubscription criteria, to ensure that the school does not become overcrowded.

Our Cymraeg 2050 strategy clearly emphasises the important role education plays in helping us meet our ambitions of a million Welsh speakers. All Local Authorities are therefore required to prepare and implement a 10-year Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (WESP) setting out their commitment to improve the planning and availability of education through the medium of Welsh within their area. This long-term planning framework allows for the consideration of wider issues such as fluctuations in birth rates.

The Welsh Government publishes local authority population projections that can be used by local authorities and others to help plan for likely future demand for services, such as planning school places. These are based on the latest trends in births, deaths and migration. The Welsh Government is planning to publish an update to these projections, to be based on data up to and including 2022, next year.