Eisteddfod – Welsh Medium Education

First Minister Carwyn Jones AM has discussed the future of Welsh medium education in Carmarthenshire today (Wednesday August 6) at the National Eisteddfod.

Mr Jones visited Carmarthenshire County Council’s stand, Pentre Cyngor Sir Gâr this morning to meet Council leader Cllr Kevin Madge and received an update.

The First Minister discussed the report by the county’s Welsh Language Census Working Group and Carmarthenshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2014 – 2017.

The Education Strategic Plan incorporates the recommendations of the Census report to create a forward-looking programme which develops a clear language continuity programme from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3. The Council has developed provision in the Dinefwr area through creating two new 2B schools and one 2A secondary school.

A new two-stream primary school is being considered in Llanelli as part of the 21st Century Schools Programme.

There is significant investment in suitable buildings for Welsh medium education to meet the demand which includes Ysgol y Ffwrnes, Ysgol Parc y Tywyn and Ysgol Gyfun y Strade.

A key area of work is developing marketing materials for parents, Governors and the public and the department is currently researching developing the Gwynedd Language Charter to meet the needs of the County. Also underway is the review of the Language Centres provision looking at good practice from other areas in Wales.

Another key area is the preparation of the baseline assessment to look at the present school categorisation. This will also include the aspirations of the School/Governors, the percentage of teaching through the medium of Welsh at present, information about the teaching of Maths and Science, an assessment of the staff’s Welsh language skills, and information about the linguistic background of children at the school.

Executive board member for education Cllr Keith Davies said: “I’d like to highlight the education department’s commitment to promoting Welsh medium education for pupils in the county and am pleased that the First Minister was here today to accept a copy of the strategy.”

To learn more about Carmarthenshire’s vision and objectives for Welsh medium education see the councils Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015.

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Here, in the Government, we accept our part in the challenge of strengthening the language for the future. It is vitally important that leaders across Wales also place the Welsh language high on the agenda across all the work that they do.

“I am pleased to have had the chance to learn more about the council’s plans to promote Welsh, especially what is being done in terms of Welsh education in the county.”

Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said: “We had a very worthwhile discussion about the council’s new strategy, which was agreed by the full council last month, particularly focusing on education and the plans to help schools strengthen the position of the Welsh language in the county.”