Use of Welsh in education

See also: use of Gaelic and Scots language in education

Welsh is compulsory for all pupils in Wales up to age 16 and there are 450 primary schools and 50 secondaries where Welsh is the sole or main medium of instruction. Central to the language strategy in Wales is the National Language Unit which provides strategies and resources for both Welsh and English teaching n the country. For more information visit www.wjec.co.uk/

Since devolution in 1999, there has been an increasing demand for Welsh-speakers. In a growing number of jobs, an ability to speak Welsh is essential. But despite the Assembly's efforts to promote the language, pupils are struggling to achieve top grades in Welsh exams. In 2002, only 20.3% of pupils sitting A levels in Welsh as a first language were awarded grade A.

In 2002, a draft policy review report was being discussed by the Welsh Assembly suggesting that Welsh became the language of instruction in English-speaking schools throughout the principality. The Assembly's education committee recommended that Welsh, already compulsory to GCSE level, should also be used to teach designated subjects, such as PE, art, music and drama, in English-medium primary and secondary schools. The committee said that these subjects lent themselves to teaching in Welsh because the language element of the lesson is not critical to academic success.

The National Literacy Trust comments that there is another aspect to the committee's recommendation that needs considering. The education committee's argument seems to assume that the language content of music, art, PE etc is minimal - just a few instructions - and so depth of linguistic ability is not needed. This is to seriously misunderstand the nature of these subjects and the importance that oracy plays in developing pupils' understanding of the subtle concepts involved. For example, the ability to be able to articulate the evaluation of your work and others' is part of the learning process in developing skills in these areas. Any school literacy coordinator should recognise the central role played by what could be termed the 'practical subjects' in developing students' linguistic ability; an ability that will not only help them to fulfil their potential at examination level in these subjects but will also help them develop their linguistic skills in all areas.

In 2005, teachers concern was expressed that entries for Welsh second-language GCSE had collapsed due to the syllabus being too hard. In a more positive aspect, a national study of basic skills in Welsh, carried out by the Basic Skills Agency, found that young people were increasingly getting to grips with writing in Welsh rather than just speaking it. The study found that almost three-quarters of the 16-24 age group were able to read and write Welsh well. Their "level 1" basic skills equated to GCSEs at grades D-G or higher. However, a 2004 survey - of 1,363 16 to 64-year-old Welsh-speakers across the country - found that literacy levels fell sharply among 35 to 44 and 60 to 64-year-olds, more than half of whom were at entry level 3 or lower (below GCSEs).

Those in south-east Wales had the highest literacy levels, although regional variations in skills were less significant than those related to educational qualifications and people's occupations. Regardless of region, Welsh-speakers found reading and spelling easier than writing and punctuation. Overall, literacy levels in Welsh compared well to those in English in Wales.